'Glastonbury Hare' by Christopher Fry Rabbit and hare blessings through the ages The myth of the Moon Gazing Hare has a connection to ancient Pagan beliefs and beyond. They believed that seeing a moon gazing hare was an affirmation of femininity and would bring growth, re-birth, and abundance, new-beginnings and good fortune. The hare was sacred to the goddess Freya and to Ostara, goddess of springtime. This link with the goddess Ostara/Eostre led to the modern day Easter Bunny. At Easter we eat Hot-Cross Buns, the cross on the bun representing the four quarters of the moon
12x6x5 Inches This little beaded tiger by Betsy Youngquist is made from repurposed antique doll parts, an old puppet head, and a wooden foundry form. Some of these parts have been excavated from the grounds of old German doll factories. "Mr. Fantastic" is out taking his pet eye for a walk on a windy day and feeling fantastic. He is covered in glass flatback stones, pressed Czech glass, antique metal purse beads, pearls, and glass seed beads.
Artist Betsy Youngquist creates unique mosaic sculpture using beads and found objects at her studio located in Rockford Mosaic Charlotte Beads Glass Beads
On today's blog we have a conversation with artist Betsy Youngquist, whose work is a wondrous web of storytelling on loss, remembrance, and magic. Youngquist is a mixed media artist whose dazzling beaded creatures bring the fantastical realms of our imagination to life. Join us as we delve in with Betsy to talk about her pieces that she's been working on and the stories they create along the way.
11x13x1 Inches framed 5.5x8 Inches interior beaded painting size This beaded painting by Betsy Youngquist is an example of the work Betsy was creating when she started her adult creative journey decades ago. Under the beads there is a complete painting in acrylic inks on watercolor board. Betsy uses the painting as a color guide for her bead application. Once the painting is completed, the beads, stones, and other mixed media materials are added using glue. The narrative content in these pieces becomes a personal snapshot of a moment in the artist's life using a a menagerie of characters and symbols. Here a fawn is safely nestled in a womb as the outside world hurls red arrows at her. Roots and flowers keep the forest present in her life as the stars in the night star speak to the wonder of existence. Betsy befriended a fawn she saw just after it was born. A curious soul, the fawn always lagged behind her mother and sibling as Betsy approached throughout the year. After one hunting season this fawn's young sibling was killed and left by an irresponsible hunter on Betsy's mom's property. Womb is an expression of trying to keep a friend and deer safe in a world where that just isn't possible. Loss is the theme of this current series of paintings. Womb is protected with UV blocking glass. International buyers please convo Betsy about shipping charges.
17x17x11 On May 17th of 2018 our beloved dog, Chaco, passed over in our backyard surrounded by loved ones. Chaco’s backyard domain had always been a nursery for wildlife, and during the time of his decline in health and death, two baby crows were being raised by their parents there. Chaco was a dog who was very observant of the activity above his head. Scott carved two birds in honor of Chaco and the crows being raised in our yard. This first bird, Muninn, stands as a representation of memory. He is a guardian of remembrance for those we hold in our hearts forever. The day of Chaco’s passing was filled with beautiful synchronicities amidst the sadness. We thank our beautiful boy for the gift of his life as it intertwined with ours for 12 1/2 years. :) Muninn's coverlet includes vintage and contemporary beads and stones, natural turquoise, antique African beads (glass and brass), quartz crystals, coral, and antique glass prosthetic eyes.
Artist Betsy Youngquist creates three-dimensional mixed media utilizing beadwork, crystals, and found doll parts like eyes, mouths, and hands. The elements merge to create surreal creatures that exist between human and animal, mixing animated facial features with long tentacles or hooves. For the works, Youngquist and her partner R. Scott Long first cut apart antique doll heads to determine what sort of animal the face might inspire. Next, Long sculpts a form for the sculpture and Youngquist adheres an assemblage of glass beads, stones, and eyes. More
Betsy Youngquist is a mixed media artist of Rockford, IL who has been working with beads for twenty...
Betsy Youngquist's latest work shows broken doll parts repositioned into animals forms. Betsy uses re-purposed materials in her mosaic art. The beadwork rocks.
9x9.75x2 Guru Poppy is a wall-hanging flower who is wise beyond her years. A full believer that energy is a continuum, Guru Poppy desires only to quietly sit in the sun and share stories of past lives with the poppy buds around her. She knows instinctively that nature is a miraculous pharmacy which should be utilized, ethically studied, and respected. GP’s, favorite songs include ‘(Listen to the) Flower People’ by Spinal Tap, ‘Sugar Magnolias’ by the Grateful Dead, and ‘(Nothing but) Flowers’ by the Talking Heads. Guru Poppy was created using a mosaic process and was lovingly assembled with a multitude of mixed media elements. She is the first in the series “Flower Power” that celebrates our symbiotic relationship with plants, and gives a nod to the 60s revolution that brought our attention to the need for change. GP knows that LOVE is the strongest force in the universe. She is a guru after all. Materials -Vintage Victorian trim -Contemporary Japanese glass beads -Glass micro beads from Italy made in the 1800s -Swarovski flat back stones -Antique porcelain doll head with old glass doll eyes -Woven antique beaded purse sections -Hand carved mother of pearl flower -Vintage pressed glass flower (Germany?) -Antique glass buttons (from a generous retired beader in Forks, WA)
Artist Betsy Youngquist creates three-dimensional mixed media utilizing beadwork, crystals, and found doll parts like eyes, mouths, and hands. The elements merge to create surreal creatures that exist between human and animal, mixing animated facial features with long tentacles or hooves. For the works, Youngquist and her partner R. Scott Long first cut apart antique doll heads to determine what sort of animal the face might inspire. Next, Long sculpts a form for the sculpture and Youngquist adheres an assemblage of glass beads, stones, and eyes. More
Intricated and beautiful mosaic beads work by Betsy Youngquist
There is much to be said about following your bliss.
Mosaic artist Betsy Youngquist's latest beads mosaic work of mythological animals. Seed beads and doll parts are the materials used in the unique sculpture
6x6x6 inches Seeing Eye Dolls "Waiting for the Wind" is all about those times in the rhythm of our lives when the wind has temporarily died and our sails yearn for a fresh breeze. The doldrums can seem the most intense just before that renewed burst of beautiful energy makes itself known. This beaded narrative shows a slight movement of grass as the first line of returning wind gently appears. Our lady waits filled with hope and ready to soar. WFTW is made from a variety of repurposed materials including antique doll parts, scraps from a vintage beaded clutch, parrot feathers, and a wooden mid-century foundry form. She is additionally adorned with glass flatback stones, pressed Czech glass, pearls, druzy beads, coral, vintage glass beads, and contemporary glass beads. The artist considers this new series of Seeing Eye Dolls to be visual poems.
Butch The Parade 8.5x8.5x3.5 The PARADE Series is about how we grapple with the fear of the unknown during a time of human crisis. While self-quarantined, I started to make little dolls and a giant beaded PEEP. Then the idea of making a parade for Easter 2020 (my 55th birthday) while sheltering in place popped into my mind and stuck. The parade ensemble became the 800 block of Royal Street in New Orleans, where a Gay Easter Parade usually passes by Myth Gallery's open doors. Butch, Gallery X, is our next door neighbor at Myth Gallery in New Orleans. He is a beautiful, tough looking soul, and is the baby on the block. He usually wears black and paints his ass off. Rumor has it he is checking on our gallery regularly during this time. Yep, he is a sweetheart. Butch, the doll, is made from a variety of repurposed materials. -Antique doll parts. -Glass Italian seed beads circa 1800. -Old assorted glass beads and stones, European. -Swarovski flatback crystals. -Vintage mother of pearl hand-carved cross. -Hand-carved shell flowers. -Metal gator charm. -Contemporary glass beads from Japan and the Czech Republic. All materials were hand placed using a mosaic technique. Sculptural elements added to the dolls before beading were created by R. Scott Long.
Mosaic artist Betsy Youngquist's latest beads mosaic work of mythological animals. Seed beads and doll parts are the materials used in the unique sculpture
Mosaic artist Betsy Youngquist's latest beads mosaic work of mythological animals. Seed beads and doll parts are the materials used in the unique sculpture
10 3/4 x 12 3/4 x 2 3/4 Inches framed In "Siren Under the Rabbit Moon" the mermaid or "siren" is stuck on land as she yearns for a wondrous adventure to take her away from her perceived "stranded" reality. We must wait at times for the return of light and while waiting know that we are carried and cared for. Life is a series of rebirthing experiences. "The Siren Under the Rabbit Moon" is symbolic of that experience. This beaded painting by Betsy Youngquist is an example of the work Betsy was creating when she started her adult creative journey decades ago. Under the beads there is a complete painting in acrylic inks on watercolor board. Betsy uses the painting as a color guide for her bead application. Once the painting is completed, the beads, stones, and other mixed media materials are added using glue. This piece is protected with UV blocking glass and frames in a wooden shadow box style. The color in the first image is true to the piece. International buyers please convo Betsy about shipping charges. Please note that a crystal "tear" was added after the initial image was photographed.
9x9x3 Calliope is a wall-hanging flower who is a sweet friend. A full believer that bees are the bomb, Calliope desires only to chat with her pollinator friends about their travels. She gets along swimmingly with her garden flower friends as well, and is often called upon to arrange secret flower parties where nectar is shared. Calliope was created using a mosaic process and was lovingly assembled with a multitude of mixed media elements. She is from the series “Flower Power” that celebrates our symbiotic relationship with plants, and gives a nod to the 60s revolution that brought our attention to a need for change. Materials -Contemporary glass beads -Glass beads from France made in the 1800s -Swarovski flat back stones -Antique porcelain doll head with old glass doll eyes -Antique glass stones -Comtemporary glass pearls
Mosaic artist Betsy Youngquist's latest beads mosaic work of mythological animals. Seed beads and doll parts are the materials used in the unique sculpture
14x8x6 inches The Little King of the Jungle by Betsy Youngquist is a sweet boy king who truly has the best interests of his jungle kingdom at heart. This royal head is made from broken antique porcelain doll parts, and his arms and legs are vintage. His royal majesty's crown is made of Brazilian Tangerine Quartz Crystal and the royal collar is adorned with pearls. Truth be told this king's true heart is held by a unicorn maiden who he only saw fleetingly once in the depths of the deepest woods. Hoping that she will return someday, our king keeps his maiden's jungle home healthy and wild just as it should be... The Little King of the Jungle can both hang on the wall and stand on his head.
4x4.5x4 Specimen #1 was actually a specimen shell in someone's collection at one point. He has the specimen designation on his forehead. He is a being who moves between the depths and the surface. Specimen #1 has Czech rhinestone chain, vintage glass stones and beads, antique porcelain doll appendages, old African beads, an antique glass doll eye, shell, natural pearls, contemporary glass stones and beads, and coral sprouting from his home. These materials were adhered to the surface using a mosaic technique. These creatures are explorers who dare to come out of their borrowed shells and experience the outside world. This series is all about playful oddities. Shipping to international countries available upon request.
4.5X4X3 Inches Tooth Faerie by Betsy Youngquist is the tooth faerie of all forest dwellers. You will find this faerie leaving corn, flowers, beef jerky, and small insects in leu of American currency. This piece was constructed from antique doll parts, rhinestone chain, vintage purse beads, sea beads, vintage fur, vintage African beads and accented with a real deer tooth.
7x7x1,5 In diesem perlenbesetzten Stück von Betsy Youngquist dreht sich alles um Freude. Betsy hat sich entschieden, mit der Persönlichkeit dieser Figur zu spielen und ein Minimum an Materialien zu verwenden. Jolly hat offene Arme (oder Flügel), die die Freude willkommen heißen, die er in der Welt um sich herum findet. Der Kopf wurde auf dem Gelände deutscher Puppenfabriken, die zwischen 1860-1930 in Betrieb waren, ausgegraben. Die Rostflecken auf dem Kopf sind Teil von Jollys Leben unter der Erde. Dieses Stück hängt an der Wand. Materialien- Antike Gießform aus Holz Alter Porzellan Puppenkopf Papageienfedern Glasperlen und Steine Swarovski Steinen
2.25 x 2.25 x 2.25 inches This little beaded probe by Betsy Youngquist is made from repurposed antique doll parts. Some of these parts have been excavated from the grounds of old German doll factories. The head on this one is from a broken Hummel doll. Meant to be a probe for exploring new planets, this half human half space ship construction is full of Earth's charms. I'm guessing this one is the space commander, and it looks like he is a kind one at that. The ship's surface is covered in glass beads, Swarovski stones, vintage glass stones, and contemporary Czech cup chain. The adhesion technique is mosaic.
Betsy Youngquist is a mixed media artist of Rockford, IL who has been working with beads for twenty...
Artist Betsy Youngquist creates three-dimensional mixed media utilizing beadwork, crystals, and found doll parts like eyes, mouths, and hands. The elements merge to create surreal creatures that exist between human and animal, mixing animated facial features with long tentacles or hooves. For the works, Youngquist and her partner R. Scott Long first cut apart antique doll heads to determine what sort of animal the face might inspire. Next, Long sculpts a form for the sculpture and Youngquist adheres an assemblage of glass beads, stones, and eyes. More
'Glastonbury Hare' by Christopher Fry Rabbit and hare blessings through the ages The myth of the Moon Gazing Hare has a connection to ancient Pagan beliefs and beyond. They believed that seeing a moon gazing hare was an affirmation of femininity and would bring growth, re-birth, and abundance, new-beginnings and good fortune. The hare was sacred to the goddess Freya and to Ostara, goddess of springtime. This link with the goddess Ostara/Eostre led to the modern day Easter Bunny. At Easter we eat Hot-Cross Buns, the cross on the bun representing the four quarters of the moon
Artist Betsy Youngquist creates three-dimensional mixed media utilizing beadwork, crystals, and found doll parts like eyes, mouths, and hands. The elements merge to create surreal creatures that exist between human and animal, mixing animated facial features with long tentacles or hooves. For the works, Youngquist and her partner R. Scott Long first cut apart antique doll heads to determine what sort of animal the face might inspire. Next, Long sculpts a form for the sculpture and Youngquist adheres an assemblage of glass beads, stones, and eyes. More
