Artist Exhibition – Betsy Smith
November 1 to January 31
Neale Pavilion / VINS Nature Center

About Betsy Smith:

Betsy’s artwork is a celebration of the amazing natural world around us, from distant galaxies to the fascinating wild creatures with whom we share our sacred Earth. Her preferred mediums are watercolors and acrylics. She particularly enjoys watercolor painting on location, where the experience of sunlight, weather, and birdsongs adds a lively dimension to the creative process. Betsy loves the feeling of being an integral part of the landscape as she is painting. Sketching birds and other wildlife also gives her joy. Betsy’s sincere hope is that through her artwork she can share her love of wild creatures and the special places they call home.

Betsy grew up in an artistic family who encouraged her to follow her dreams wherever they might lead. Although artistically inclined, she developed an early fascination with aviation and space, learning to fly at age 16.

During her flying career, Betsy always made time for art, attending painting workshops and sketch-journaling while on her flying trips. Through her membership in the International Association of Astronomical Artists, Betsy was able to combine her interests in art and the cosmos, attending space art workshops in exotic locales. In 1995 she was one of twenty artists from around the world whose paintings were sent up to the Russian space station Mir for the first art exhibit in earth orbit. Her painting was the one selected by the crew to remain on Mir.

Along with watercolor landscape painting, Betsy particularly enjoys sketching and painting wildlife, often on location with the aid of a spotting scope. In 2016, Betsy became a volunteer at VINS, and is especially thrilled at the opportunity to fly raptors in the education programs. Many of her bird paintings are inspired by the avian residents of VINS.

View more of Betsy’s artwork.

Proceeds from the purchase of artwork from Betsy Smith will benefit VINS.

Artwork: VINS Ambassador Bloomfield, Red-tailed Hawk.

For more information, contact us at 802.359.5000 or info@vinsweb.org.