Des Plaines artist has White House connections

The art of Beverly Becker, Des Plaines Art Guild artist, is featured at the third floor gallery, (periodical reading area) of the Des Plaines Library, 1501 Ellinwood Ave., during the month of May.

"Sometimes I just have to put the brush to canvas," Becker said. "Once I get started, I will sometimes paint for eight to ten hours uninterrupted." "You can't really call yourself an artist until you have completed 1000 paintings," she advises young art students.

Becker's May show is evident of her expertise, dedication and experience. Her travel experiences and intensely charming personality is evident in her work. The show is comprised of four distinct disciplines: oil on canvas, watercolor on paper, acrylic on canvas, and an acrylic on water transfer process, and her subject matters range from realistic street scenes to abstract color studies.

"Each medium has its own unique set of challenges; for example, a watercolor painting requires extensive preplanning, and my acrylic water transfer process needs days to prepare the materials," she continued. "All art solves a problem. Whether an artist is trying to mix the exact color or adjust the relationship between light and shadow, each decision has to fit together for a piece to be successful, " Becker said.

"One of the most difficult decisions an artist has to make is to know when a painting is finished," she said. Abstracts are especially difficult because you need the confidence to wait and see where the painting is going." Music often plays while Becker works, acting as a subconscious inspiration.

Becker has studied all her life, both here and abroad. She is a member of not only the Des Plaines Art Guild, but the Elk Grove Village and Arlington Heights, as well. She has previously shown at the Des Plaines Library, the Des Plaines History Center, Prairie Lee Print and Frame in Des Plaines, at US Bank, in Woodstock, and many of her original watercolor scenes of historic buildings in Des Plaines hang at City Hall.

Some years ago, Becker was invited to speak at the White House at the Fourth Annual Women's Health Conference. As a personal thank you to then First Lady Hillary Clinton for her support of women's health initiatives, Becker gave The first lady an original watercolor entitled, "Mennonite Ladies." The 1997 portrait was Becker's first and the painting is still part of the White House collection today.

Becker will again be exhibiting at this years 57th Annual Des Plaines Invitational Art Fair which will be held indoors, Saturday June 5 and Sunday, June 6. at Metropolitan Square, just west of River Road in downtown Des Plaines. Her best advice to emerging artists is to get involved with Art Leagues and guilds.

"It will force you into being an artist."

The Des Plaines Library, 1501 Ellinwood, is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.

For information visit dpag.org.

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