Even as a child, Bettina had always enjoyed and preferred the rural life much more than being in large cities. She had also always loved the idea of creating things – be it paintings, abstracts or handicrafts.
She completed her studies from the University of Cologne and Penn State University in the US, and soon thereafter began her career in the financial and banking sector in Cologne. However, her first tryst with Oman was in 2004, when she came to the country on vacation knowing practically nothing about the country. “I was immediately hooked by the beauty of the country and the friendliness of the people. I was so in love with this place that I began to come every year at least once for my vacation, bringing different friends each time,” she said.
Doing this every year was, however, not feasible in the long run and she eventually decided to apply for jobs here. “I got an offer from a regional bank in 2013 which I accepted immediately and have been here in Oman ever since.”
Last March I had to be in quarantine after returning from a holiday abroad and shortly after the lockdown started and I had to refrain from my weekly outings with my hiking group.” Instead of sitting at home doing nothing and just longing for the outdoors, she decided to instead get back to painting and recreate on paper the beautiful landscapes of Oman and the places that have had an indelible impact on her over the years. “At the moment my abstract creations are about the Hajar Mountains, date palm plantations, and other local habitats that have left a very deep impression on me. I have also started to use material that I find in Oman such as sand from local beaches and Omani Sea Salt to give my artwork structure and depth.”
We caught up with the budding artist to find out more about her art and the creative processes that go into creating each piece. Here are some excerpts from the interview…
What is it that drew you to abstract art?
For me, the beauty of abstract art is that I can give my own interpretation of my memories of places and events without sticking to the original shape, form, or colour. I can be more open minded with how I approach my painting. This also includes that I not necessarily always know from the beginning where the painting takes me.
Therefore, painting results sometimes turn out completely different than originally anticipated, as new ideas and visions can be adapted throughout the abstract painting process. I also enjoy the fact that once my artwork is done, the abstract aspect of my depiction requires the viewer to keep an open mind and to give his/her own interpretation of the results of my painting process. At the moment my abstract creations are about the Hajar Mountains, date palm plantations, and other local habitats that have left a very deep impression on me.
What do you wish you knew about painting abstracts before you got started?
There will always be some things that I do not know about painting abstracts, be it techniques or media. However, in a more general sense I wish I would have known that the actual creation and painting process is only a small part of the whole process of creating and showcasing my artwork. After continuous positive feedback from family and friends, I decided to take a more serious approach and created my own Instagram profile to showcase my art and to connect with different artists – locally as well as globally. I totally underestimated the time that I would spend here. Be it preparing my own artwork to be presentable or browsing other artists’ portfolio and getting inspiration from there.
Especially, the effort it took me in the beginning to be content with the presentation of my own artwork in terms of realistically presenting the true colours or the mood which inspired my painting. Luckily, I have friends who are experienced photographers and were able to help me set my artwork in the right light and capture the essence in those images that could be showcased on social media for maximum impact.
How has your style changed over the years?
As I only recently resumed painting after a long break, I believe I am still a novice and yet to find my own style. I currently like to experiment with the art mediums I use (mainly acrylics, but also water colour, water colour pencils, chalk, charcoal and even salt). I therefore believe that I am still on the way to finding my own style. So maybe better ask me this question in a couple of years.
Please share your thoughts about your inspirations and colour choices for your pieces?
Nature in Oman is an inexhaustible source of inspiration for my abstract art. Whoever says that desert landscapes include only colours of beige and sand have not been to any of the wadis, the Hajar Mountains or on any part of the more than 1,000km of pristine beaches in Oman. No matter where I go, I can find manifold unexpected colour variations, interesting and unique textures – be it the reflection of light in shallow water, the sunlight falling through a canopy of date palms, or the evening sky before or during one of the scarce rainfalls that we sometimes witness. So, it is no surprise that lately my regular hiking and camping activities got a different focus as I now pay much more attention to small details within a place, landscape, or object.
Could you walk us through your creative process for each piece?
I have called my Instagram handle “Farbkleckse”, which is a German word meaning “splash or blob of colour.” This was because, initially the idea of putting several colours on a piece of canvas or paper to just observe if it results in a beautiful mess sounded very therapeutic to my mind and soul. It actually turned out to be very true. The process, however, to turn some random “Farbkleckse” into a satisfying piece of art is more complex than this, as it involves techniques, feelings, emotions, and experience. When I begin a new painting, I usually have some places or objects in mind that I have recently seen or visited. I normally work on several paintings at the same time to let my mind absorb ideas that are arising when applying the first layers of paint. I spent my time in the beginning between thinking the inspiration over, painting and cleaning up my utensils and workspace. It is not unusual that, when I do not connect with a painting or feel stuck, I put it away for a while. Only after some time has passed am I able to take it out again, usually when the painting starts to speak to me and I am blessed with an idea while doing the most menial jobs of the house, which in turn enables me to finish the piece. Very often I finish an artwork with a completely unexpected result from what I had set out to do.
What is the most challenging part about creating abstract art?
For me personally it is sometimes a challenge to allow myself in my painting process ‘to drift away’ from the initial idea or impulse and to remain patient with the unknown until a connection between me and my painting arises. Sometimes it does not, and I have to accept that I better put that piece away to hopefully resume with a new approach at a later time.
There’s a lot of abstract art on the market these days, how do you differentiate yours from the rest?
During the time when I was checking out artists all over the world on social media, I saw multitudes of paintings being photographed in the same background settings which I later realised were taken from various wallpaper apps. I wanted to take a more personal approach to displaying and presenting my artwork. I decided to merge my love for outdoors and the desire to create into one. Hence, I believe what better than the beautiful locales of Oman to be the backdrop for my paintings. So nowadays when being outside of Muscat for some time on the beach or in the mountains you can always find one or two paintings with me waiting for the perfect spot to be placed for a photograph. So at least, if people don’t like a particular painting they will be stunned by the beauty and diversity of Oman’s landscape and culture and would also want to venture out and explore these places.
The home I grew up in… a quaint village located in the countryside of North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany.
When I was a child, I wanted to… be a tailor and design my own clothes.
My greatest inspiration… are people who are passionate about what they do, work hard and don’t give up until they reach their goals.
My heroes… are my parents.
If I could change one thing about myself… I would like to be more patient and reduce the things I would like to complete in one day.
I dream of… having my own painting studio and becoming an established artist
It’s not fashionable, but… I prefer my handwritten to-do lists over any app based daily planner/organizer.
You may not know it but I’m no good at… doing things at the last minute, and that’s why I have to plan in advance.
You may not know it but I’m very good at… cooking Indian masala chai.
If I have time to myself… I like to take care of my plants and enjoy relaxing in my terrace garden.
My house is… filled with furniture, souvenirs and decorative items I brought home from many travels.
My favourite holiday destination… is irrespective of the country as long as there are vibrant and busy local markets to explore.My favourite weekend spot in Oman… there are so many lovely spots I like to go to but lately it is either Bar Al Hikman or Khalu
