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THE LYRICAL ART OF by Dale Youngman Much like the woman herself, the art of Bettie Grace Miner defies a simple description. Born in El Centro California, Bettie also lived in Memphis, Paris, Seattle, and Japan, although Southern California is where she calls home, and has lived for most of her life. The variety of lifestyles, people, and philosophies she has experienced may be one reason that her art and talents are also wide reaching. Living in a large artist loft in downtown LA for 14 years when it was still a bit rough-and-tumble inspired her with its’ creativity, colorful artist community, and gritty urban scene. But it was her experiences in other locations that was to first inspire her, and then launch her unexpectedly into fine art.
There were a few influential people in Bettie’s background that had a hand in her fine art path. After reviewing some of her work and seeing potential, an art director and graphic artist friend suggested she take advanced classes. Then, a photographer asked her to paint an abstract background for a photo shoot, and also encouraged her to experiment with manipulating Polaroid SX-70 film. (That photographer turned out to be even more influential after they got married!) Further individual studies with impressionist and abstract instructors led her to study abstract art at the renowned Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Realizing that art and photography were much more exciting than legal briefs, she decided to pursue work in the creative sector.
Bettie began supplying the Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach with artistic marketing materials that she created through her unusual Polaroid film techniques. The general manager there loved her abstract work, and while watching her create an abstract portrait “on the fly” at a Chaka Khan concert they were sponsoring, he immediately commissioned Bettie to do a 50-piece music-inspired exhibit. That life-altering opportunity spawned the creation of “Jazz Impressions”, a collection featuring world-renowned jazz musicians. “Music was my first passion - I find it very inspiring - which is why musical themes show up a lot in my work. I started taking music and voice lessons when I was thirteen. Then at nineteen I was playing classical guitar and later was trained in voice by an old Vaudeville performer-turned-teacher. He was amazing and probably why I still have good diction to this day. In college I was a music major with business as a minor. I studied and performed opera and contemporary voice, receiving a degree in Music & Business. I continued studying and performing guitar for a total of seventeen years.”
When Polaroid stopped making the SX-70 film, Bettie was forced to find different techniques to create her work, and turned to Corel Painting, combining that with her own photography, collage, acrylic painting, and embellishment with found objects. Her truly mixed – media works now may incorporate multiple techniques, processes, numerous materials, and applied ornamentation “I loved experimenting with digital media, combining my photography and digital painting, the technique I utilized to create the award images for the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. It is a wonderful and flexible program allowing me to combine all of my skills. Another commission from that same hotel GM resulted in a 30-piece collection called “Through My Window, which features impressionistic images of what I might see if I lived on the beach or boardwalk, each of them embellished with various materials, like beach sand, glitter, sea glass or Swarovski crystals.” Now living and working in Indio, CA, Bettie is working on a new series of abstract original paintings, undoubtedly inspired by the incredible colors of the sky and landscape of her new home in the Coachella Valley. To view and purchase work by Bettie Miner, please visit her online studio on the OMNI art platform, Click Here. _________________________________ Author Dale Youngman is an independent art curator, fine art dealer, marketing consultant and art writer, working to facilitate the flow of art in Southern California. She currently consults with artists, galleries, interior designers, non-profits, and a new art platform to advance business for everyone in the art world. She has twice been honored by the LA Mayor’s Office with “Certificates of Recognition“ for her many years of art advocacy. Find Dale at her website.
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As a young child living in Paris, she was fortunate to be exposed to museums and painting excursions overlooking the Eiffel Tower. Her first close encounter with art came at six, when she was scolded for touching the Mona Lisa during a field trip. Thus began a never-ending fascination with art, as she wanted to touch it, to feel its’ story, and experience its’ colors, shapes, and textures first-hand. Now, she encourages people to touch her own art, as she understands the urge to experience it with all of ones’ senses.
Bettie was a creative and spirited young adult. She moved to Seattle, Washington to attend Shoreline Community College where they had a very highly-rated music program, following her first passion. She was talented, and after graduation, got booked on a musical tour in Japan performing in jazz clubs. Unfortunately, she was then seriously injured in a tragic auto accident that left her unable to continue playing guitar, effectively ending her professional music career. Switching direction, she enrolled in UCLA’s legal assistant program, received a certificate, and secured full time work at a law firm while dabbling in her newfound hobbies of art and photography at night and on weekends. 
