Tuesday, January 6, 2009

For the Love of Art

When an artist genuinely adores her craft, the art she produces will testify to that love. No one proves this maxim more convincingly than Betsy Thompson, a Portland, Maine-based collage artist who cycles through nature, literature, home life, and other favorite themes with a warmth and vigor that suggest a deeper motivation than simply the need to sell a few prints. Drawing upon a palette of rich, yet tempered colors and working with mixed media that lend superb depth and movement to her compositions, Thompson invites us to enter her world through visually unforgettable pieces like Gone to Sea, based on the Edward Lear story of the Owl and the Pussycat, then seemingly leads us home amid the towering woods of Little Red in Spring.

Her avian subjects, standing alertly in the foreground of works such as Winter Wait and Peace in the Garden, delight us nearly as fully as the subtle layers of story text or sheet music that color her backgrounds. Her more ironic work, typified in Oh Alice, appeals to the lit-loving soul in us all. Her juxtapositions of color with black and white elements, as in Monocular Nest, beguile us; her simple renderings of swaddling infants such as the one in Safe-Keeping melt our defenses and remind us that art is nothing if not a direct connection to the human heart.

To tempt you further, Betsy is graciously offering her art print Winter Wait as a gift to one lucky reader. To qualify, visit Betsy Thompson Studio, then come back here to tell us about your favorite print. Tell us in a second post if you subscribe to Wishing Willow, since our subscribers receive an extra entry in the contest. To post without a Google account, just click “anonymous.” Be sure to also leave your email address. The winner will be chosen randomly. Contest ends 1/14/09.
We have a winner! Mary said, "Tea with Lemon and Peace in the Garden. Lovely art !!!"

256 comments:

1 – 200 of 256   Newer›   Newest»
Jingle said...

I love the winter berries print! Just gorgeous!

Karen Faulkner said...

glorious work, love so many of them but especially Winter Wait.

Anonymous said...

I love the Four Fruits print! Thanks for a great giveaway!
lindagregsmith(at)gmail(dot)com

Karen Faulkner said...

I'm a Wishing Willow subscriber!

Anonymous said...

I also subscribe!!

Digital Misfit said...

Gorgeous art! Twosome is a favorite of mine - the colors and textures are so beautiful (and I ♥ bird art).

heidig@gmail.com

Digital Misfit said...

I subscribe :)

heidig@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

I like the winter wait.

valerie2350 said...

I like peace in the garden!

Anonymous said...

I liked the "Safe-keepers" print.


barbaraeford@yahoo.com

Jen said...

I love the Gone to Sea Archival Print. So cute.

footejennifer at hotmail.com

Annie1 said...

I love the The Garden of Paradise archival print!

Gorgeous!

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Annie1 said...

I'm an email subscriber!


Thanks so much!




nancyrobster@gmail.com

Shelley K. said...

My fave is the Winter Wait Archival Print

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17470859

Thanks for a great review and giveaway.

tskrush (at) cox (dot) net

Shelley K. said...

Subscriber :)

tskrush (at) cox (dot) net

Salleefur/Jesselyn/Jesster said...

My favorites are "Peace in the Garden" and "Winterberries Archival Print." So many lovely designs.

Salleefur/Jesselyn/Jesster said...

I am a Wishing Willow email subscriber.

nape said...

I LOVE Winter Wait! We're birdbrains here (five parakeets), and also feed the outdoors birds and other animals. If I have to choose a second artwork, I'd choose "Winterberries archival print," representing our five birds.

Great giveaway. Thanks!

nape said...

I'm an email subscriber (which is how I learned about this giveaway).

Thanks!

rrshep said...

I really like the Peace in the Garden print!

Anonymous said...

summer abundance,i love to plant my garden in the spring,carrots are one of my favorites,not only because you can eat them(there really good right out of the garden)But there mother natures art.Sadly no one does it better.

Mrs Anne said...

What a fabulous artist!!!

I am in love with Peace In the Garden and No More Goodbyes... it's a close tie!

:) Wonderful giveaway!

Happiest New Year!

Anonymous said...

Hi!
Winter Wait is a very pretty print but my heart belongs to Alice falling down the hole...

Very quaint.

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber!

Anonymous said...

Love all of your work, but Oh, Alice. is my #1 favorite!
kmg1128 @live.com

Jenna said...

My favorite one is Peace in the Garden archival print. I love all of the colors. Thanks!

Carolyn G said...

I like the FOur Fruit archival print

two hippos said...

I've loved Betsy Thompson's work for a while now. My favorites alternate between the seeds archival and the winterberries archival. But everything is lovely.

Loopy said...

I really like the Summer Abundance archival print? I just love the colors! And is I wierd Carrots make me happy?

lazergir1 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Loopy said...

And I subcribe! Yippie!

lazergir1 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Allison said...

I really love the Four Fruits print.
formandfunctiondesign@yahoo.com

Allison said...

I'm also a subscriber :)

Xenia said...

The Peace in the Garden archival print is my favorite, it's so colorful!

Thanks!
xpbloch(at)juno(dot)com

Xenia said...

I'm a subscriber!

xpbloch(at)juno(dot)com

From the Dotte said...

I love Peace in a Garden. But the Winter Wait print speaks to me because I have fondness for cardinals.

From the Dotte said...

I am a subscriber!

Tylerpants said...

Peace in the Garden is quite lovely!

Kim said...

I love the Take Root print. So neat.

Anonymous said...

I love the four fruits.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

maggie said...

I like No More Good-byes and Winter Wait and all of the others. If I win I would give it to my daughter who has just moved to her own apt. I think she would love it.

Gina said...

I'm a subscriber!

maggie said...

And I'm a subscriber.

Anonymous said...

I am a subscriber.

rebbi511 at peoplepc.com

Gina said...

My favorite is definitely Winter Wait. They are all so great!

ginak0915@gmail.com

Andi said...

My fave is Little Red in Spring.

Angie L said...

I love peace in the garden.

Angie L said...

I subscribe

Michelle said...

Oh.. how do you pick just one?? they are all incredible!! My favorite is the Winterberry and a very close second would be the solitary journey!

Trish said...

I love the peace in the Garden print!

Trish said...

I am a subscriber!

Cheryl F said...

My favorite is The Garden of Paradise archival print

Joni said...

My favorite is "Garden of Paradise".

Anonymous said...

My favorite item from Betsy's studio is the Peace in the Garden print!

Thanks for a great giveaway!

Unknown said...

i love the garden of paradise print, so cute, it looks like a pressed orange tree, lol

Unknown said...

i am subscribed

janeh said...

I love Oh Alice and Droplet.......

janeh said...

I'm also a subscriber.....thanks!

scrunquist said...

I like Peace in the garden, and Winter Wait. Thanks for the great contests!

Melissa Butler said...

Little Red in Spring is my fav on this day ~ I could totally see it hanging in my entrance way.

Jeanne said...

My favorite print is the Winterberries archival print. Great colors.

playswithclay said...

I love the peace in the garden, it's beautiful!!

playswithclay said...

Shoot, forgot to leave my contact info: playswithclay.etsy.com

Anonymous said...

Gone to sea is my favorite.

gesilver@aol.com

Inked Papers said...

Peace in the garden is my fave! But they are all lovely!

mlruyle@yahoo.om
www.jewelryinfusions.etsy.com
Michelle

Inked Papers said...

I'm a subscriber!

Miss Spoken said...

Oh, Alice is my favorite.
gkstratos@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Spring Fiddles is my favourite print. It reminds me of picking and cooking fiddleheads with my cousin when we were young.

Anonymous said...

Happy subscriber. Thanks.

Brimful Curiosities said...

Peace in the Garden is my very favorite. Thanks

crystallite22 said...

I love down the rabbit hole but they are all wonderful and whimsical!

mverno said...

i like the Four Fruits archival print

Mia J. said...

My favorite is Peace in the Garden.

Anonymous said...

I really like the Oh Alice archival print. mandalee_5@hotmail.com

Peggy said...

Peace in the Garden archival print is my favorite. So colorful and beautiful

Peggy said...

I subscribe

Jayme said...

i love them all but i really really like Peace in the Garden archival print. thanks!

jayme[dot]bouwens@yahoo[dot]com

Deborah Stinson-editor said...

my favorite would have to be the Four Fruits print. Very nice! sierramuse8 at aol.

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

winter berries is my favorite

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

subscriber

grannyvon said...

My favorite is "No More Goodbyes" archival print, I would love to own a piece of her work. This lady will be famous someday! ybutler@oppcatv.com

grannyvon said...

I am a subscriber, ybutler@oppcatv.com

Michw37 said...

I would have to go with Peace in the Garden

Jennifer said...

They are all lovely. My favourite is "Take Root".

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

Jennifer said...

I am indeed a subscriber.

knittingmomof3 (AT) gmail (DOT) com

sushi_noem said...

I love them all, but especially Winterberries.

Anonymous said...

They are all so gorgeous but my favorite one is Summer Abundance of the carrots. It would look great in my kitchen. Thanks.

Qwill said...

I would chose the garden of paradise print.

judybrittle said...

I really like the Safe-keepers archival print. That is so cute! Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

I really like the Take Root print...I would put it in an extremely inspirational spot! =)

robt6 said...

My favorite is Winter Wait, enter me please.

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the Peace in the Garden archival print.

Anonymous said...

I love the Solitary Journey.

toughturtles said...

Solitary Journey archival print

Anonymous said...

I like the Winter Wait print.

Anonymous said...

I am a subscriber. If I need to pick something besides the giveaway print, which really is my favorite, I like the Gone To Sea print, also.

Anonymous said...

Winterberries
Jaleigh78[at]aol[dot]com

silverbele said...

Winter wait is my favorite

vboackle said...

i love peace in the garden.

Simply Stacie said...

I love the Twosome archival print.

Croasla0 said...

I like the tea print!

lauren
croasla0(at)sewanee.edu

Shannon said...

As I sit looking out at the snow, Freshly Picked conjures thoughts of Summer, so it is my favorite today. Thanks for offering such a generous giveaway!

Anonymous said...

Love Winter Wait, but my favorite is Safe-Keepers, b/c it reminds me of the adoption of our son. Beautiful work!
schmeez@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I love "peace in the garden" I love all the bright colours and the little bird is so cute! Thanks for entering me

Unknown said...

I'm an email subscriber! Thanks

ABCD Diaries said...

beautiful stuff! i like peace in the garden as well:) thanks!

Anonymous said...

I absolutely love Gone to Sea and Peace in the Garden! Beautiful!

thefamilyswan[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber!

Laura said...

Beautiful work! Peace in the Garden is my favorite.

Anonymous said...

winter wait archival print

Leslie said...

i love safe keepers and winter wait...though they are all beautiful and it makes it so hard to choose.

Rebecca R. said...

I like Gone to Sea or Tea with Lemons! How creative she is!
elireeves at stny dot rr dot com

Rebecca R. said...

I am a subscriber.
elireeves at stny dot rr dot com

Danielle said...

My favorite in peace in the garden

Anonymous said...

my favorite is the Peace in the Garden archival print!
britt.farris@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

subscriber!
britt.farris@yahoo.com

Katie said...

I think Winterberries is gorgeous. The red, light blue and black colors really pop.
katiekarr at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

4 Fruits is my fave

Her WIP2: Garden of Paradise is a fave on flicker: http://www.flickr.com/photos/urchinmama/2910666636/

Smooshy said...

i like little red in spring!

Anonymous said...

I think the Winterberries archival print is captivating. I like the way that in several of her prints she uses sheets of paper in the background. I also like the use of birds. There are so many different meanings you can get from birds.

scarey_karma@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I am also a loyal subscriber:)

scarey_karma@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I like the wishing willow. My grampa used to have a giant willow in his yard

jason@allworldautomotive.com

Janelle said...

I love all of Betsy's prints, but today an especially enamored of Take Root. It works for all seasons and places. Winter Wait is stunning, as well!

Janelle said...

...and I'm a Wishing Willow subscriber now, because this looks like a really cool blog!

Alice H said...

The 'no more goodbyes archival print' is my favorite - so hard to choose though! Thanks for the chance - alicedemske at hotmail.com

Alice H said...

Also I'm a subscriber! alicedemske at hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I like the Solitary Journey print.

KR said...

I love Gone to Sea!

Marilyn said...

Winter wait is my favorite.

Claire said...

I really like the Winterberries Archival Print.

pattidriving said...

I love Winter Wait. Spotting cardinals are the way our family remembers my deceased mother.

pattidriving said...

I am a subscriber

Kate said...

I love the nature/text combination of The Garden of Paradise!

Kate said...

Subscriber!

redron said...

peace in the garden

jenny said...

wow there alrealy nice but the one i like th most is the one abt alice going down the hole please enter me infor this thanks

cpullum said...

I like the Tea with Lemon archival print!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

My fave is definitely the Winterberries archival print! Amazing work!

imanoptimisticbeauty(at)yahoo(dot)ca

Unknown said...

I'm a subscriber!

pcb said...

Love the Winter Wait and the Four Fruits.

Anonymous said...

The winterberries archival print is just a reminder of my bird pals that I see outside my window, all year long! Love the birds, love these bird prints!

Happy New Year and Sweet Treats to all feathered friends!

Aprilshowers said...

Such great prints! I like Solitary Journey the best.

Unknown said...

The Winter Wait archival print is my favorite.

writer.in.seattle at gmail dot com

Aprilshowers said...

I am also a subscriber.

KitschyHippo said...

I really really love "Oh Alice"

KitschyHippo said...

I am a subscriber

Anonymous said...

I like the Four Fruits archival print.

Erin Sipes said...

These are really great prints, it's hard to pick just one. My favorite is "No More Goodbyes."

Erin Sipes said...

I'm a subscriber!

Anonymous said...

My favorite is the Winterberries archival print.
-Terra H.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I LOVE the Winter Wait one for my sister! Thanks, Debbie
debsicola@yahoo.com

idahomom said...

I like Winter Wait. We were patiently waiting for snow this year.

Anonymous said...

I liked Lucky No 2, but Winter Wait is delightful!
tosyd@One.net

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful Etsy store. I like the crustacean print. My grandmother has a home near the beach and I think it would go wonderfully in her house.

jenna said...

Very nice - I like Summer Abundance.

thistledowns wool & cotton said...

i was lucky enough to get a christmas card from Betsy; winter wait. it's gorgeous! but i love Lucky No 2. as well. but then there are others. oh, to pick. i haven't visited here before, but have just subscribed. thanks for the giveaway! sarah

Melissa said...

I like the Crustacean archival print

a_berson said...

i love 'take root'
is the artist familiar with the work of 1960's print maker corita kent?

Anonymous said...

All are great, but I think my favorite is the Safe-Keepers Print. Thanks!

miller lawn service said...

I really like the Temptation print. Thanks!

miller lawn service said...

I subscribe.

winvin said...

Winter Wait truly is my favorite, but I also like Take Root.

Anonymous said...

Peace in the Garden archival print is very nice.

Anonymous said...

Subscriber too.

~Lisa~ said...

Tough choice, but Winterberries really caught my eye. Thanks!

Karen said...

Love the berries print.

ktgonyea at gmail.com

MonkeyBaby said...

i think my favorite is "No More Goodbyes."

MonkeyBaby said...

i subscribe!

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - Besides the beautiful Winter Wait giveaway, I also love Safe-keepers!
An artist with a very unique design quality and vision1

Christina said...

Christina - xristya@rock.com - I am also a faithful Wishing Willow subscriber, although I haven't received it in my email box lately - should I resubscribe?

Unknown said...

I am really drawn to the Winterberries print!

ilikecitylights (@) gmail.com

37 Questions said...

I adore Monocular Nest. What fabulous work she does!

37 Questions said...

I'm a subscriber, of course.

Anonymous said...

The Crustacean archival print is adorable! Would look great in my kitchen.

info@pingfordsporridge.com

Anonymous said...

Oh! And I'm a subscriber.

info@pingfordsporridge.com

bison61 said...

I like the Gone to Sea archival print

tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I love the print, Safe-keepers archival print.

pestkaj said...

I love Winter Wait...

pestkaj at yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I love th winter berries archival print.

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber!!

Nicole said...

I love Solitary Journey and I am a subscriber now!

Danielle M. said...

All of Betsy's prints are fantastic. I especially like the Peace in the garden print.

Jenn said...

I love Peace in the Garden and Tea with Lemon!

Jenn said...

I'm also subscribed on bloglines

Krystyna81 said...

peace in the garden is my fav!!!

Krystyna81 said...

I'm a subscriber!

Anonymous said...

My very favorite is the Peace in the Garden print. I love the colors she uses and it really is so peaceful.

Anonymous said...

I'm a subscriber

Mary said...

Tea with Lemon and Peace in the Garden. Lovely art !!!
TU for the giveaway ~
saddletheyaks[at]yahoo[dot]com

Mary said...

I subscribed ~
saddletheyaks[at]yahoo[dot]com.

kwinger said...

I love winterberries and twosome! Thanks for the great giveaway!

kritty said...

Temptation archival
I've had it in my favorites in my Etsy account for a long time. Will add this to my feed today. :)

superdavefive said...

My fovorite is "Peace in the Garden"
Thanks for the contest!

Cari K. said...

I love the Winterberries archival print.

charlies_secret_angel2006 at yahoo dot com

Theresa C said...

Peace in the Garden archival print, thanks for the contest and have a great day!

Dee said...

I love the Winter Wait archival print.

Sassy said...

peace in the garden is my favorite

Sassy said...

i'm also a google reader subscriber!

Mommyhood is Thankless said...

Winterberries archival print is my favorite!

mommyhoodisthankless{AT}gmail.com

Guitar Guy said...

I am a subscriber!

Guitar Guy said...

My favorite is the Oh Alice!

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