Red Lights; encaustic on wood; © A. Bettas 2013
I use grids to evoke aerial views, maps and streets. The grids are my interpretation of infrastructure within urban environments but also suggest a journey. The “red lights” symbolize danger and warnings while the grids relate to traffic flow and movement
Urban Winter; encaustic on wood; © A. Bettas 2014
As the title suggests, this painting is an abstract winter aerial view of a city centre. I use multiple layers of paint, scraping back and repainting until the desired effect is achieved. It’s a very physical process resulting in painterly effects that represent urban erosion and decay.
Gridlock; encaustic on wood; © A. Bettas 2014
I am influenced by the ever changing downtown skyline and use intuitive mark making to transcend the hectic pace of city living and traffic congestion.
Image Credits
All Images Are © A. Bettas
Anastessia Bettas Artist Bio
Anastessia Bettas is a Toronto based, visual artist who specializes in encaustic abstract and life-size portrait paintings. She is currently working on a commission of four large paintings for the Nottawasaga Resort in Alliston, ON for delivery in spring 2014. She is on the Executive Committee of the North Toronto Group of Artists and a member of the International Encaustic Artists association. She has a formal education in art history, fine arts and business from McGill University, University of Toronto and Toronto School of Art (TSA). Her work can be found in private collections in Canada and Europe.
In Anastessia’s new work, she captures the vitality of the urban experience using grids to evoke skyscrapers and streets; randomness and order. The grids are her interpretation of infrastructure within urban environments but also suggest a journey. She is influenced by the ever changing downtown skyline and uses intuitive mark making to transcend the hectic pace of city living and traffic congestion. Anastessia uses scraping and incised encaustic techniques together with multiple layers of paint, scraping back and repainting until the desired effect is achieved. It’s a very physical process resulting in painterly effects that represent urban erosion, decay and chaotic energy. She is drawn to the spontaneous nature of this wax based medium for its textural and sculptural possibilities and strives to create an aged surface on her works – an influence from her lifelong exposure to antiquities.
Anastessia has been exhibiting in juried shows since she was a student at TSA and her works have received numerous accolades since her recent graduation in 2013. She uses professional encaustic paints such as R&F and Kama and makes her own medium from purified beeswax and damar resin. Inspired by her Greek heritage, she used organic shaped, worried bead motifs in her early works which have now evolved into more geometric, urban themed paintings.
Website: www.anastessiabettas.com
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