’Artists can adapt to changes, as tough as they may be. Those who are born to create will find a way.’
Beth Mitchell is an Australian fine art photographer, specialising in ethereal underwater images. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, in group and solo exhibitions. Her works are carefully planned and staged so that the whimsical visuals represent a deeper story. Beth draws upon ideas of femininity, societal issues and personal themes.
Where is your current studio? What would be your dream studio?
After years of being in Brisbane, I am currently based in Melbourne. Usually I fly up and down monthly between the two, but current crisis has me here in Victoria. I have a home studio space (I sometimes work from a co working space to keep me sane and to have a good community) filled with plants and a pair of finches to keep me feeling creative.
My dream studio would be a large greenhouse which has a solar heated pool and plants and birds everywhere. I would love a view from the greenhouse of the ocean and a space I can work on my images as well as create the images (hence the warm pool).
How has your style evolved and what contributed to the changes?
Originally my works were centred around photographing models underwater. After facing a lot of mental health issues, grief, burnout and personal reflection I was able to identify what my voice is through my art. As a result it has merged into using my platform to showcase diverse women who are worth following, drawing inspiration from and as visual depictions of some very heavy social issues we face.
Describe an obstacle you have faced and how did you overcome it. Being a photographic artist in Australia is tough, the market is tough and the medium isn’t as heavily represented. This always continues to be an obstacle. Thus far for me, staying consistent, growing my work, networking my work, standing up after feeling like a failure and creating nonetheless has been my mini “overcoming” steps. Am I “there” yet? Heck no, but I am further along than I was 5 years ago and I am proud to still be doing this. What do you hope to convey through your work? An awareness around our mental health epidemic, an honesty about womanhood and women growing up in an overlay sexualised society and hopefully a message of the restoration of healthy and celebrated diversity in femininity. Describe a moment you had an epiphany concerning your creative life. These moments of epiphany that occur are huge pillars in artists evolving. For me, a recent epiphany was realising that my identity and success is not dictated by an acceptance or rejection from a gallery. It is merely an indicator that I was looking in the wrong places. Moving forward, it is important to me that I remember that, and hold loosely what I perceive to be a symbol of my personal success and worth as an artist.
Follow Beth!
@bmphotoblog
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