We had the good fortune of connecting with Bethanya Abebe and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Bethanya, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
I have always been exposed to art since a young age. My father is an artist, I spent a lot of time in his studio growing up watching him paint. I believe that has a huge impact on my interest in art. I chose to be an artist because of my love for creating, it seems i can’t separate myself from it. I’m thrilled to do this for a living.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Generally speaking my art is inspired by my environment, my interaction with my community and my personal emotions as well. I make both figurative and abstract paintings. I use variety of mediums such as acrylic paint, wood, poly fill, fabrics , faux fur, embroidery and more. I am consistently finding ways to grow in my practice by experimenting with different materials and finding new subjects. I believe originality and consistency are key to success, therefore, I keep my eyes open for inspiration wherever I am. During our journey towards success, we might face a lot of rejection (I did) however without them, my work wouldn’t have been as strong as it is right now. Each rejection was a call for me to improve, almost every problem that I faced was an opportunity to elevate my skills and creativity. Success that comes easily is hard to appreciate.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I actually had a friend visit me around a year ago! She is an art lover as I am so MOMA and the Met is a must when visiting NYC. I love having breakfast at MUD in east village and also La Parisienne in financial district. For dinner, I recommend Cecconi’s Dumbo, the food is great and the waterfront view is amazing. Then of course Central Park is nice to rent a boat for an hour, the price is pretty affordable as well. There are also spots like color factory, museum of illusion, museum of ice cream and more for a fun time. There are way too many things in NY to list, I love the city.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Yes, first all glory to God who strengthens me and provides for me. Second, I absolutely have the most supportive friends and family. My parents have always been encouraging me to do what I love most and helped me with anything they could offer all along, I would love to give them a big shoutout. And of course my fiancé, he has been with me the past 7 years and have given me endless amount of love and encouragement. I am grateful to be surrounded by amazing people, it’s truly inspiring and motivates me to keep pushing.

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

Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCz9PBoLGjzIhMYQ-9M1pdrg

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