Today we’d like to introduce you to Beth Sievers.
Hi Beth, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in Davenport, IA and moved to Rochester, MN to pursue a career in nursing at Mayo Clinic Hospital Rochester. I obtained a Master’s degree in nursing and work as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. My formal education had always been more focused on science and music and never included visual art classes. My husband, John, and I met in band in middle school, started dating in high school, and have been married for just over 20 years. We have two daughters Eleanor age 14 and Abigail age 12. I had taken some classes in stained glass when I completed my Master’s degree and prior to having my daughters. However, I found the time commitment too much once they were born. When my oldest was one, my husband and I took an encaustic class at a local art gallery, and I fell in love with the medium. Once my youngest was 2 years old, encaustic painting became a family activity. My girls would sit on stools next to me and color on shaped wood pieces and then I would add encaustic medium and glitter, of course, to enhance their creations. During this time, I experimented with the medium to see how I could create with it.
Around 2015, I decided that I was either going to get my doctorate degree in nursing or pursue my encaustic painting more seriously. Encaustic painting won, and I started putting my work out in the public.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Coming from a background in the sciences, I could not practice without a formal degree, licensure, and certification. Since I have not had any formal art education it was difficult to get past the feelings of imposter syndrome as an artist. Joining a local artist collaborative, Gallery 24, in 2016 really helped to build my confidence and become part of the art community in Rochester. Another struggle is to try and balance my family, work, art, and personal needs. When I was first getting my art out in the public, I would say yes to almost every opportunity whether it was vending, participating in art collaboratives, exhibits, residencies, etc. Covid forced me to slow down and try to find a better balance as opportunities start presenting themselves again.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Currently, there are only two artists working primarily in encaustic painting in Rochester. Therefore, I spend a lot of time educating the public about this art form. Encaustic painting entails working with a warmed mixture of beeswax, tree resin, and pigment, applying it to a porous substrate, like wood, and using a torch to fuse it to the surface. Encaustic art is part of an ancient tradition that developed on the banks of the Mediterranean in Egyptian, Greek, and Roman culture.
Whenever possible, I use wood that I have salvaged locally. This idea came from my husband who spent his high school and college years working at landfills and recycling centers and saw first-hand what people throw away. I scavenge discarded wood from wood workers, dumpster dive at local cabinet companies, and go to the local public utility company to find wood that they are looking to dispose of. Now that Rochesterites know that I’m looking to recycle unfinished wood, I’ll have people reach out to me when they are trimming trees or I had a local electrician gather the ends of electrical wire spools for me.
Using discarded wood means that I have to put time into preparing the substrate, but it’s worth the extra time since it means less waste in the landfills.
I often create nature inspired pieces that are motivated by the shape of the wood I am creating on. This makes most of my art “one of a kind” since I will never have that piece of wood again. I also really enjoy creating abstract pieces since encaustic lends itself to experimentation.
I find that the compassionate care of patients in my day job fuels a creative spirit geared towards creating art as a healing practice. I hope that when someone hangs a piece of my art in their space it brings them a sense of healing.
In 2020, I started curating the art gallery space at 125 Live, a non-profit organization offering access to social groups, fitness, classes and community to adults 18 and older. My favorite part of this role is reaching out to artists, telling them they are doing excellent work, and asking them if they would share their talents by exhibiting.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I truly believe that by lifting up the arts in general, everyone will benefit. I love it when people attend community events and support the local art scene. Obviously, it is always nice when someone purchases a piece of my art, asks for a custom piece, or asks me to participate in a show. As an artist, you spend a lot of time making the case as to why you deserve and opportunity. It’s nice when people express admiration for your artistic creations.
In terms of collaboration, I enjoy working with the castoff remnants of others’ creations. Sometimes a partially turned bowl that cracked can become the perfect form for me to create with.
Contact Info:
- Email: bethsieversartist@gmail.com
- Instagram: @bethsievers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethsieversencausticart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnniz5sBJQI&t=6s
Image Credits
Mercedes Brandt _Y7A4650 _Y7A6195
