Today we’d like to introduce you to Adria Becker.
Hi Adria, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
My parents had the foresight to provide a blackboard wall in my childhood bedroom. This is where my artistic journey began. I had teachers all through school who challenged me to explore and develop my talent.
Trips to Tahiti, with its light, colors, and flow, are reflected in my paintings and drawings.
My studio is now my blackboard.
Inspired by sharing the joy of creating, I teach both Painting and Drawing. I have exhibited widely in California and Rhinebeck, Germany, and had work featured in several movies.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The challenge was to find a way to share my paintings and drawings publicly. When I started taking classes at Everywoman’s Village in Sherman Oaks, a haven for artists in the 1980s, with Dr. Alex Vilumsons, I joined Artist Co-op7 and exhibited in many venues, including the Federal Building in Westwood and an exhibit in Germany, also learning how to curate and install a show. This has served me well, and I currently have a solo exhibit at Gloria Delson Contemporary Art Gallery in downtown LA under the guidance of Director Petra Wright.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Mixing and pouring oil paint directly on the canvas, allowing it to drip, bleed, and pool, as well as directing it by blowing, tipping, and brushing, leads to a convergence of colors and shapes. The paint requires time to dry between sessions, and sometimes I return to find it has shape-shifted, and I incorporate these happenings into the completed work. The painting evolves from this intuitive, chance-based approach.
I also love to paint and draw the figure in a non-traditional way, in ink, oil pastel, and watercolor, and I enjoy sharing this approach with my students of Right-Brain Figure Drawing. Additionally, I have had the pleasure of jurying and curating many gallery exhibits, along with being past Executive Director for and on the Art Panel of Artist Co-op7, on the board of the San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center, and a member of USAA.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
I’m so glad to see in-person events returning! Although we all depend on the internet, there is nothing like drawing a sitter in person and seeing art on a wall rather than a computer. I’m looking forward to teaching many more aspiring artists and many more energetic receptions.
Contact Info:
- Website: adriabecker.com
