Today we’d like to introduce you to Bella Wattles.
So, before we jump into specific questions about art, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Moving to Los Angeles was a huge inspiration to me, and really jump-started my passion for art. I’ve always been drawing and painting, but moving to the west coast was like going from black and white to color. There’s so much around to be enamored by, and that passion translates to my work. I grew up in a creative family, and always went to alternative-type schools (like a creative arts high school and film school for college), so I’ve always worked in a multitude of platforms. I’ve designed magazines, worked on films as a production designer, done freelance graphic design work, painted custom signs, always helping others express themselves or their vision. But drawing and illustration is the way I express my vision and myself.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t necessarily been easy, it’s harder as an artist working in a slightly newer medium (digital). There are tons and tons of digital artists, but in the art and gallery world there’s still a distinction between fine art and digital art. You don’t really see that many gallery shows of work that’s been created digitally. So breaching that gap, for me, is a challenge. Through practice I’ve learned to just listen to my gut. I’ll always question my work, and its place in the art scene, but everything represents a time and place in my life and seeing my own journey to improve is exciting to me. I think, for any artist, a big challenge is staying authentic to yourself while still exploring new styles. I try to meld together old habits while practicing new techniques, so I think you can see a natural progression. I’m very instinctual and I think that has helped me have a strong vision for myself and my work.
Please tell us about Wyeth Studio.
I’m an illustrator, and I do animations for fun as well. The two themes I draw heavily from our nature and city. The ivy on a brick wall. The way a tree is shaped around a bus that drives underneath it every day. Telephone poles out in the Angeles Forest. I’m known for my Street Scenes of different Los Angeles neighborhoods. In my Street Scenes, I have a set color palette but otherwise, each is different for the neighborhood it’s in. It started with a drawing I did of my back “yard” (really just a parking lot), I just loved the lines and confusion the telephone wires make. I started taking pictures for inspiration from other neighborhoods I work in or drive through, and it just grew from there!
There’s a wealth of academic research that suggests that a lack of mentors and networking opportunities for women has materially affected the number of women in leadership roles. Smart organizations and industry leaders are working to change this, but in the meantime, do you have any advice for finding a mentor and building a network?
Actually, I’d love to find a mentor myself. There are a few women in LA that I’ve met, usually through facebook groups or instagram, that are making their own space in LA for networking and connecting with other women because they see a lack of that out there. I love this because I see women who are naturally strong leaders and organizers building other women up, and helping them reach new goals and supporting their talents. Networking and learning to promote your own work is really hard, and something I definitely had to get used to. I think social media can be used as a great tool to meet new people. I also highly suggest stickers – no one ever turns them down.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wyeth.studio/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/___wyeth___/
Image Credit:
The photograph of me was taken by Emma Vagnone, please make sure to credit her. The LA Street Scenes were all drawn by me, with photographs I took as reference.
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