New work: Beatrice and Dante Looking Into the Sun

2011. 7" x 8". Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper.

New work: Label for The Pooka's Share

New work: Label for The Pooka’s Share

2011. Micron pen, mixed media paper.

My brother is a homebrewer, and I drew this label for his brew The Pooka’s Share. Antediluvian Brewing Company is the name of his “brewery”.

Cover illustration for The Typographer's Left Shoe

Cover illustration for The Typographer's Left Shoe by Richard McGowan.

2011. Micron pen, mixed media paper.

I loved this story, and I loved working on the illustration. It's a story about a witch of sorts, but not the kind you might expect...and it's a fairy tale but definitely not a Disney story (and not suitable for kids).

Here's a link to the book:The Typographer's Left Shoe
And here's a link to Rick McGowan talking about the cover on his deviantArt blog: vanilla-vanilla on deviantArt

New work: Night Creature Girl

Night Creature Girl © Bethy Williams. 2011. 4.5" x 9". Micron pen, watercolor, mixed media paper.

New work: RAWWRRRRR

RAWWRRRRR © Bethy Williams. 2011. Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper.

Magical book of wonder

I went to Michael's the other day, mostly to see if there was any new Halloween junk (there was, and I practically slipped in my drool). While I was there, of course, I perused the art supplies. In particular, I wanted to see if there was any of the hot-press watercolor paper I usually use for all my work.

There wasn't any, but there was something else that caught my eye...something called "mixed media" paper (okay, it actually said "mix media" but that sounds grotesque to my ear...). It was available in the form of a big, thick book. Well, that might be suitable for me, I thought. My eternal problem with paper relates to mixing two very different media. So I opened the book to see what the paper texture was like and all at once I knew that this humble book of paper was destined to become a Magical Book of Wonder, filled with my works.

I can't quite explain it, but I just know this book is going to be filled with good stuff. So over the next few weeks or months, prepare for magical wonder.

New work: Snow White in her Glass Coffin

Snow White in her Glass Coffin © Bethy Williams. 2011. 6" x 10". Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper. Original available on Artfire: http://bethywilliams.artfire.com/.

New work: Sonic Device to Open Star Portals

Sonic Device to Open Star Portals © Bethy Williams. 2011. 6” x 8”. Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper. Original available: http://bethywilliams.artfire.c​​om/.

New work: Girl with Shining Red Eyes

Girl with Shining Red Eyes © Bethy Williams. 2011. 6" x 8". Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper. Original available: http://bethywilliams.artfire.com.

New work: Moth Girl Singing to the Moon

Moth Girl Singing to the Moon © Bethy Williams. 2011. 5" x 7". Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper. Original available on Artfire.

New work: Practicing Telepathy

Practicing Telepathy © Bethy Williams. 2011. 5" x 7". Micron pen, watercolor, hot-press watercolor paper. Original available: http://bethywilliams.artfire.com/.

Interview with The Gloaming Magazine

Check it out, I've been interviewed:

The Gloaming: Artist Profile: Bethy Williams

Magical suprise package

Went to check my P.O. Box the other day and found a surprise waiting for me...a magical mystery package from Xavier van der Meerschen on the planet Quebec.



The note that came with the metal charm said "I found this on the ground, seems like a magical hammer or a galactic artifact. Thought you may like it!"

Care for a free Bethy Williams bookplate?

I love books oh so much, and I love bookplates too. I would love to see the good old bookplate make a comeback. So I thought, "Hey, I'm an artist...why don't I design a bookplate?" So I did, and I'm making it available for free on my website. Just download it, print it, and paste it!

Popular Protists: a pseudo scientific coloring book

Once upon a time, when I was a little junior high zinester, I created a little black and white tribute to the group of unicellular organisms known as protists. The protists are largely overlooked as a group, but they include such beloved characters as the amoeba and the paramecium. 

Today, I love talking about protists as much as I did then, so I decided to rework and revamp that old idea to create Popular Protists: a pseudo-scientific coloring book.

Popular Protists contains seven black and white drawings of protists for you to color, and there's a surprise at the end. You can get your copy for $2 in the UnitedStates, Canada and Mexico and $3 overseas. Go to my Artfire shop to order or e-mail me at bethywilliams@gmail.com.

A wonderful review of my work!

 deviantArt user "vanilla-vanilla" really "gets" my work and has left me a lot of kind and delightful feedback over time. This, however, really takes the taco...

"When I first opened the package to view the 5 by 7 piece upon arrival, I had to just stop and stare for minutes on end, ogling every line and wash. In the flesh, it's so detailed and finely worked it honestly looks like a color etching.

And, as if beauty and detail weren't enough, like all of her work, it contains mysterious writing. It seems related to Avestan...but it's even more mysterious and more ancient, and more powerful, so I haven't deciphered it yet myself. Ah, everyone needs a fresh piece of new art that comes equipped with a "two-pipe problem" for the alien paleographer..."

Collaboration with Arkham Sewers Project

I'm very excited about my recent collaboration with Arkham Sewers Project, a one-man experimental/dark ambient project from Massachusetts. ASP asked me to perform some guest vocals on his latest release, Seven Recipes For Gold.

I was psyched to work with ASP because I love his music and I love his style. He releases his work on cassette tapes, and he creates (and photocopies) his own liner notes for an old-fashioned "underground" music experience.

Track listing:

1. Enochian Love Triangle
2. Mercurial
3. Visitation of a Red Tincture
4. Lantern in the Snow
5. That which is real
6. lumière noire
7. Rain from the Moon

I'm very pleased with this collaboration and I hope I get the chance to work with ASP again in the future. We are kindred artistic spirits in many ways so I'm sure it's not out of the question.

 If you are interested in getting your hands on a copy of the tape, you can contact me at bethywilliams@gmail.com or you can contact ASP at asp_band777@yahoo.com. 

ASP isn't huge on self-promotion but he does have a modest web presence on MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/asp777). Though he has a couple of sample tracks up, two of them are noise tracks and overall they really only hint at the great ambient soundscapes he has created on his tapes.

View from my studio: Sunday, February 6, 2011

Frequently Asked Questions

 I've started a list of Frequently Asked Questions at bethywilliams.com. I will most likely add more as time goes on. If you think of some I may have forgotten, or if you yourself have a question you'd like answered, email me: bethywilliams@gmail.com

Frequently Asked Questions: What kind of pen do you use? What does the writing say? What are your influences?

New project: Automatic Drawings

Starting January 2011, I'm very pleased to offer a rather unique type of commission, which I like to call an "automatic drawing". Here's how it works:

1. You put a pen or pencil to paper and make a free-form scribble. Just let it flow, don't try to make it a picture of anything in particular.
2. Send the scribble to me. I will transfer it to a 5" by 7" piece of hot-press watercolor paper. Then I will pick out shapes and images that I see within the scribble.
3. I will convert the scribbly shapes to an ink drawing in my unique style.

A black and white automatic drawing will cost you $100. If you would like me to add some color, I will do so for $150.

Please note:

1. The "automatic drawing" allusion is all in fun. This is not meant to diagnose or predict anything.
2. Due to the nature of the process, I cannot make edits to the piece. That defeats the entire idea! I do promise that what will result is a piece of a quality as high as the rest of my work.
3. This type of work can take some time. If you have a particular deadline in mind please let me know when you place your order.

If you would like to order an automatic drawing, please contact me at bethywilliams@gmail.com.