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Meet the Artist - Belette Le Pink

Annie Mason
5 min read

Meet the Artist. The place where I introduce YOU to an artist through a virtual interview. Our featured artist is Belette Le Pink. *Note The images in this post link to Belette's product shops.

Belette Le Pink

Madrid, Spain

Who are you, and what is your background?

Hi, this is Leticia, the person behind Belette Le Pink. Based in Madrid, Spain, I´m 43.

I come from a humble family with no relation to the arts or cultural aspirations, but from them, I learned to face life´s adversities through hard work and I don´t give up.

I studied Art and Illustration in Art School, but I am mostly a self-taught artist inspired by wildlife and daily life.

I started doodling when I was 4, just before I started writing. I used to copy cartoons I watched on TV (Hanna Barbera, Anime, Disney…) because I will always be fascinated by animation.

Because I grew up in a small city, my contact with nature was truly wildlife documentaries and the small parks and forests on the edge of town. For some reason, I have always felt connected with animals since my childhood, and I enjoyed illustrating hunting scenes of eagles, wolves, and lions… and reading Jack London´s novels. I wrote some books I illustrated by myself about doggy adventures and this kind. I was a lucky girl living in the wonderful '80s, a really creative and positive era.

My dream was to be a wildlife filmmaker and visit faraway places with my camera and sketchbook, or a Disney animator, creating wonderful characters more than a famous “artist”.

It is because of this I planned to study Biology until my 14th birthday when a neighbor of mine, who had been a painter in her youth, gave me an oil painting set and I started to paint more seriously.

I was inspired by the art of the Dutch artist Rien Poorvliet, famous for his illustrated books on wildlife and the Gnomes. I also liked classics Dutch like Vermeer (I love the wet on wet oil painting) Goya, Renoir, Pre-Raphaelites, Klimt, and avant-garde artists like Franz Marc,

Chagall, and whatever artist or illustrator, good or bad has a personal identity.

I started my illustration studies preparing to become a cartoonist or animator, and in the 90s, many animation studios were available in Spain. Still, due to personal circumstances, I needed a regular job, and I had to pause my artistic career for many years, leaving the art apart for free time and occasional commissions.

Meanwhile, I participated in many Local and National Exhibitions, Shows, interviews, and contests.

I have never been a portraits-or-painting artist only because I love to catch the movement, and maybe it is because of this that my sketches are always unfinished, leaving the imagination close to the lines. I identify more with audiovisual media. I have also studied music for many years, and music broadened my understanding of life, feelings, and the arts.

In 2010 I resumed my artistic studies learning Graphic Design, Advertising, and audiovisuals (examples).

And it was in 2017 when I decided to leave my regular job to try an artist career again, and this is how Belette was born.

What is your favorite medium?

Although I now use mainly digital painting, my favorite mediums are wet-on-wet oil painting and crayons, collage, and mixed media. I love the fresh watercolor style, ink sketches, and all the techniques with the expontaneous look.

I intend to introduce the traditional art concept and effects into my digital art to make it warmer and more organic.

ree — Otters of the World pattern in grey Framed Mini Art Print

Has your practice changed over time?

This question is related to what we have talked about previously. I started drawing with what I had available: crayons, markers, gouaches, pens, and colored pencils when I was a child, and with watercolors, inks, and oils as a teenager.

In the early 2000s, I discovered the art of Annette Messager and her installations, and I was fascinated by exhibition art and the tridimensional possibilities. I realized that two dimensions were not enough for me. In addition, I discovered digital art possibilities and learned to use motion graphic tools and animation. I don´t believe the different types of art compete; they are complementary, and each medium has a kind of magic, utility, and expression. It's experimenting with them; our creativity does the rest.

What do you most enjoy painting?

Well, this is obvious (laughs) animals and wildlife.

What is the strongest memory of your childhood?

I have many childhood memories, but they all seem so far away, as if they weren't mine. Nothing in particular, but maybe one of them was my tonsil operation when I was 3-4 years old. I remember everything went dark, and then I was eating ice cream.

ree — Visit RedBubble and check this as a sticker!

What jobs have you done other than being an artist?

Like many of us, I have had many jobs not related to art. I have been a shopping assistant in a printer shop, a food store, and a store restocker. I also worked as a manufacturer in factories and warehouses. I was mostly a telephone assistant in a call center in many areas like the help desk or searching for people with debts. I learned so much about people and met many different people from different nationalities there. I made many friends, no matter the kind of job, many of whom have had similar situations in life or worse. No matter what you studied or what you wanted to be, we all are in the same boat.

What has been your favorite response to your work?

I am most pleased when someone tells me that they feel motivated to create art, and my art, my animals, or my words inspire them.

ree — DESIGNBYHÜMANS Steal Your Heart Mon Amour

Professionally, what is your goal? What´s your best advice for someone wanting to start as an artist?

I would like my illustration art to somehow impact people's consciousness and spread the love for animals, wildlife, nature, and the environment. Humans are part of nature, too, even when it seems we refuse to accept that we are just one more species on this planet. I am so happy when somebody writes a comment about how they enjoy discovering new animals and being able to contribute in some way to reflect on respect for nature, the environment, and humanity itself through my small actions. Small steps matter; baby steps are the beginning of big changes. I know it's a very hackneyed saying, but it works: I am a small artist now and willing to walk the needed. This is my recommendation for those who want to be an artist or whatever they want: success is never guaranteed, but I believe it is better to accept the frustration of not being a big artist or having too high expectations than to regret not having even tried. Just do it; only time will tell.

ree — Click for a link an acrylic tray | Society6

ree — Paradise before the fire (SGHN) Sticker | Society6

Thank you so much, Belette!

Readers, you can find Belette at lots of shops, and you can check them from this site:

https://belettelepink.com/boutique-bookshop/

Be sure to check the Print-on-Demand sites for many products with Belette's wonderful designs: Society6 or Redbubble or Zazzle (select your language).

Social Media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belettelepink/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeletteLePink

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belettelepink

While you're shopping, why not buy Belette a cup of coffee? Click the icon here: ⬇️

Visit all the MEET THE ARTIST posts

Pin it, Please! Comment below this post.

Commissions, Sales, and Gifts; oh my.

Annie Mason
6 min read

I am not an expert on commissions. Not by a long shot. However, I will attempt to lay out some thoughts and situations that will give artists some criteria I have settled on in the last few years. This might prevent buyer's remorse when asking an artist to paint a portrait of a loved one, dog, or cat. The buyer and the artist can have some agreement on what they each expect from each other: Deposit, how long it will take, expectations, framed (or not), work in progress, and any questions.

Looking back on my "career" as an art teacher, I don't see an artist. Why? Because I was busy with lesson plans, checking materials, working with a classroom teacher who might want the art lesson to piggyback with her animal life cycle curriculum, and balancing the school district's K-6 art curriculum schedule. The only times that I was called on to be an "artist" was when a classroom teacher "solicited" (as in, begged me) to do her bulletin board. {cough}

Now, I am an artist who paints almost every day. I have more than 300 paintings or drawings in my portfolio unless I have sold them or given them as gifts.

As I began to think about this post, I realized that I have sold or given more images than I remember. That's a pleasant feeling because I haven't had a bad experience with doing commission work. Not like the time I volunteered to take photographs for a neighbor's wedding. My photography was quite good. However, I didn't have any sort of agreement or contract, took no deposit, and didn't consider the stress level of taking photos of an event that you can't have a "do-over." This is a recipe for a disaster. A verbal walk-through with the bride/groom instead of the parents of the two would have been beneficial. Long story short, the reception hall had fluorescent lighting, which cast a green tone on everything. The parents were horrified at the photos and refused to pay me anything for them. Lesson learned: put things in writing.

Let me show you some of my commission works and give you a taste of how I feel about them.

My alma mater, Westfield (Massachusetts) State University, invited alumni to join a gallery show in their new administration building. The show's theme was "The Garden". I was due to visit my hometown area, so I submitted this acrylic painting called "Sage". It is a 16 x 20-inch canvas. I love this because I decided to create the illusion of a basket weave on the whole design. I was pleased with how this added visual interest.

I knew that we could sell our work at this event. Hmm. What to price this? I had no idea. I priced it at $75. When I arrived at the gallery, my painting was on the wall. It was among the smaller works displayed. And it was among the smallest price tags by a lot! Most were $300 or more. "SAGE" sold, however! Was it the most affordable? Probably. Would it have sold if the price was $175? Probably.

More recently, the Facebook page of a local coffee shop was inviting artists to bring in their works ready to hang. They listed how many they would be able to display. This "Queen Bee" watercolor and pen painting, 7 x 5 inches, looked nice in a simple black frame. It was among three others that I displayed, and I priced them all at $50. The coffee shop got a call from someone asking if I would accept $40 for the bee. I told the owner no. The lady returned to the shop and purchased it for $50.

This next painting was for my niece. She has two Bichon Frise dogs, both rescues. One is a tripawd, and gets around pretty well. She had a picture of the two dogs on her back porch with a stuffed "friend" between them. I gave her the original for a Christmas gift. She loved it. Priceless!

Our church was having a dinner / social event with a silent auction to raise money for a worthy cause.

This watercolor Virgin Mary is 5 x 7 inches, matted with a gold frame. The final auction-winning bid was $50, a disappointment in my mind.

I have talked about this in an earlier post:

Dick and Rick Hoyt This duo is the father/son team that has changed the running events world. Dick and Rick ran their first event in 1977. After they were done, Rick told his dad, "When I'm running, I feel like I'm not handicapped."

Rick was a student in one of the schools where I was the art teacher. He was an amazing young 9-year-old. Little did I know how he and his dad would change the world.

After I reunited with them in Rick's apartment many years later, my husband took a picture, and I drew father/son in charcoal pencil. It was a gift to them from me and hung on Rick's wall with so MANY other photos and mementos they have as a world-famous running team for athletically challenged bodies. Dick Hoyt died on March 17, 2021.

I sell my artwork at Heather Boutique in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia. (see my story on Heather Boutique) The image on the right is an original pen & ink that I brought for this Trunk Show, an event where the artisans Heather has featured in her shop can show their wares. I brought my greeting cards and seven original works, framed and ready for sale. This piece called "Floraison" (french for flowering) was purchased shortly after the shop door opened for the day. Wow. Was I excited? Yes, indeed. The work is 18 x 18 inches framed. I had worked out a rolling scale for the time, materials, and size. Articles about how to price your works are out there to read, but this one helped me take the emotion out of it: Do's and Don'ts of Pricing Your Artwork. I still use this "formula," the shop owner is pleased because it keeps my work consistent throughout the store where it is displayed. "Floraison" sold for $150. I sold four original works at this event. My prices at the shop are reasonable and take into account my time, materials, and skill.

The photographs below show my new style change to pen & ink with light color done with crayons or colored pencils. A blog post discusses this change of pace and style.

The first thumbnail is a commission by a family member. It is her son's home in northern Virginia that she wanted to give them as a Christmas gift. The size kept increasing as she ordered the purchase. It was one of my larger works (14 x 11-inch image, matted and framed to 20 x 16 inches. The total price, including the frame, was $230.00

The other is a neighbor's home. The couple is a good friend, and they are our age. The husband and wife have purchased other artworks of mine, and they continue to compliment me and ask how my painting is going. The pandemic has been hard on them as they have been unable to see their son. We have enjoyed eating with them during the year, but that has not happened during 2020. We are going to surprise them with the artwork of their home. It will be fun to see their faces as they are not even aware that I have done this. Price: A joyful surprise.

This is "Meatball." My daughter took care of this dog when the owners were away. I painted this watercolor of him shortly before he died. He was a sweet dog, and I loved giving this to his family.

I painted this for a friend who lost a dog earlier this year, and recently got this dog, "Lassie". Her Facebook posted pictures of some flowers from her spring garden. I commented that I wanted to paint the flowers. Her friends (who know me) said, Yes, Do it! So, I did.

It's a gift, too.

If I reread this post, I guess I do "gift" more than not. My reward comes with the smiles and thank-you's, and that's why I paint.

The story is that I do love doing commissions. When the client is pleased, so am I. Everyone deserves to have an original piece in their home, commissioned or gifted. I put my heart and soul into the process and years of learning. I want the owner to love it.

Pin it, Please.

A change of pace, and style.

Annie Mason
2 min read

Watercolor is my medium (check a recent blog post on this topic)... CREATE. Why? I have talked about how I love pen & ink with watercolor. It might not be much of "a change of pace," but it seems to be a HUGE change in style.

This idea began when the owner of Heather a Boutique in downtown Fredericksburg, Virginia, had a quick chat with me while I visited her shop. Heather wondered whether some of the iconic sites in this historic district could be the subject of some of my greeting cards.

The thought stayed in my head for months, pushed back by the strange intervention of Covid-19. Heather's shop was one of so many in Fredericksburg that needed to shut its doors in mid-March and continued to do so into the summer months. Like many shop owners, she had to devise creative ways of selling her wares remotely, by phone, email, and appointment. It's been very hard on the independent shops.

Now to my revelation: Why not just pick a place, take a picture, pick a pen, and start?

The result is quite striking, at least to my eye. Architecture has never been my strong suit. The curves of flowers and birds keep my arm loose, and accidents can be quickly adapted with some paint to the affected boo-boo.

The straight, bold, perspective lines of buildings and facades are unforgiving. "Oops" cannot happen with a pen or ruler. Can I do this? Yes. Yes, I can.

First came the photographs. A foray down to Fredericksburg on a lovely day gave me at least three different places to dive into. I knew well enough not to do this on a Saturday afternoon. Even during the lockdown in March and April, people were bound to be out walking their dogs along the tree-lined sidewalks.

With my camera at the ready, I found parking spots (Fredericksburg is notoriously hard to park your car, and you had better beware: the local police might mark your tires and come back to boot that exact tire if you haven't moved in the allotted time frame).