Beth Louella
This segment is dedicated to highlighting inspirations of some of our favorite artists who have been featured in LiveGirl art exhibits. We are inspired by their work & are honored to learn a bit more on the artist behind the art! Be sure to join us for this year’s Virtual Art’s Benefit on May 31st at 2pm. Details at bottom of page!
Why art?
When I started my photography journey I did not consider myself an artist. My main focus was simply to capture my children growing up and our lives together as a family. The more I studied photography the more I enjoyed learning about how to convey more in my images rather than simply documenting my family. I learned over time how to use light, composition, and color in an artistic manner. I wanted to create images that evoked emotion not just in me but in others. After 15 years of studying photography I finally consider myself an artist.
Describe a real-life situation that inspired you.
I am most inspired by my children. I watch them change right before my eyes and feel inspired to capture them in all phases of their young lives. For instance, when my son Sam began to study guitar and felt so passionate about learning the instrument, I looked for inspiration from photos of rock star photos to create a fabulous and fun image of Sam with his new red electric guitar.
What has had the biggest impact on your art?
In studying photography I have made friendships along the way with other photographers who share my passion for photography and have served to encourage and inspire me to continue my journey. I think being in a community tied together with a shared passion has emboldened me to keep creating and to challenge myself. In the process some of these female photographers have become close friends of mine.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve been given?
The best piece of advice I have been given is that while it is good to be inspired by other photographers' work, it is important to not enter the comparison zone and be discouraged. The important thing to focus on is my own personal growth as a photographer and only make comparisons within my own work.
What superpower would you like to have and why?
As a photographer who works without an assistant I wish I had some extra arms to help carry all my equipment, keep my light stands in place and make sure all my equipment is charged and ready to go. It is not always easy to do everything myself.
For my work "Fortitude" : During these weeks of social distancing, I learned about the Getty Museum's Challenge. I thought it might be fun to create a photograph inspired by a piece of artwork. I enlisted my 17 year old daughter Lily and together we picked Renoir's 1877 painting of Jeanne Samary entitled "La Reverie." The idea was initially just to replicate the painting as best as we could. When I uploaded the images of my daughter Lily and studied them I was moved by her expression. Instead of a reverie I saw something else in Lily's eyes. I saw a strength that I greatly admired. This quarantine period has been very difficult. My daughter is a high school junior and is already working under the normal pressures of applying to college - testing, visits, interviews, applications, essays etc. She has been remarkable in this period. She just keeps focused on what she can control and maintains her social life with her friends via Zoom lunches and Facetime. I am proud of her. I hope so much that her senior year and 14th year at her school Sacred Heart Greenwich will be as special as it can be but I know that she will handle all that is thrown at her. She has learned life skills that will help her immensely in the future. I am attaching the Renior painting as well as my photograph.
Visit our Virtual Arts Showcase May 27-June 7 courtesy of The Carriage Barn Arts Center.
And don’t forget to join us on Sunday, May 31st at 2pm on ZOOM for a virtual celebration of female power and the arts, featuring activist artist, TL Duryea, completing a live masterpiece. Plus, TL will preview the 100+ art collection, including New Orleans pop art phenomenon, Ashley Longshore. Art for sale!
This very special Zoom event features Fran Hauser - media executive, startup investor, and best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl. Fran redefines our outdated notions of what a powerful leader should look like. Also poetic activist, Cheyenne Tyler Jacobs, and singer, Victoria Iparraguirre will be sharing their talents.
