26 / ’southern
FEATURES
ABrushWithNature
BETHANNE BETHARD HILL ’89
j
Bethanne BethardHill
is a full-timepainter and illustratorwhosedistinct
palette reflects her Southernheritage.
“I have always beendrawn to rural landscapes,” saysHill. “Growingup
inAlabamawithmy familymeant long, hot car trips spent lookingout the
window asmyparents pointed at the scenes that reminded themof their
childhoodhomes in the farmlands of southernOhio.”
Hill’s paintings areusuallydone in acrylic onwood, paper, or canvas out
of a studiobehindher Birminghamhome. This creation, entitled “Goat’s
Rue,” shows tree-climbing goats and a tangleofwildflowers, includingone
flower calledGoat’s Beard.
“Inmypaintings, I re-tell Southern stories and embellish them inmy
ownway,” she tells. “I have friendswith goats, whohave crazy goat stories.
Images like this return inmywork again and again, but are reimagined in
differentways.”
Hill graduated from theAlabama School of FineArts and earned aBFA in
painting and sculpture fromBSC. She says her artistrywas encouragedby
professorswho cared.
“[Emeritus Professor of Art] BobTuckerwas a great influence, warm and
funny, with a generous approach to teaching,” saysHill, who ismarried to
award-winningmixedmedia artistDariusHill and is the sister-in-lawof BSC
AssociateProfessor of Art JimNeel ’71. “Tucker’s ownworkwas infusedwith
a senseof humor and reflectedhis fascinationwithnature. Bothhe andNeel
taughtme to follow theworkwhere it takes you, and gowithwhat you really
love.”
Each year,Hill exhibits a selectionof herwork at theMagicCityArt
Connection, Bluff ParkArt Show, andKentuck Festival, andherwork is
representedbyBlue Spiral 1 inAsheville,N.C., andLeiper’sCreekGallery in
Franklin, Tenn. Shehas illustrated several CD covers andbooks, including a
children’s book,
Why theOysterHas the Pearl
. She also stays busywith shows,
illustration assignments, and commissionedwork, andhas paintings inmany
public andprivate collections, including thosebelonging toAlabamaPower
Co.; Children’s of Alabama; writerWilliamEggers; andMikeWolfeof the
HistoryChannel show “AmericanPickers.”
Hill.
Courtesy of KarenGraffeo
Goat’s Rue
by BethanneHill
or
