time to watch the instructional videos ,” she said . “ And it was things I needed to learn about , design , composition , color theory , all the things that I felt like I had just kind of picked up haphazardly . I felt like I was learning more of the basics of art .”
Up until then , most of her technique was self taught , learned through trials and errors while in her studio painting .
“ I have had no formal training . It ' s very much trial and error , what I like , what I don ’ t like , and that ' s kind of why I think I do several different things is because I ' m always just trying to find what I like and trying to improve my skills ,” she said .
She participated in the first Threefoot Arts Festival held after the pandemic , her first art show , and was encouraged by the response she received from attendees .
“ I was very encouraged , and people liked my art ,” she said , “ So it just encouraged me to continue doing it .”
Whitehead continues to showcase her work at the Threefoot festival and she has several pieces available at Hallie Ward Interiors , located at 816 22nd Ave . She also will be traveling to her hometown of Carrollton for a special Holiday Pop-Up Show on Nov . 22 .
Actively involved in the community , Whitehead volunteers at her church , Northpointe Presbyterian , and with Northeast Elementary School ’ s Reading Buddies , where a community volunteer comes into the school once a week to read with a second-grade student they are partnered with in the program . She is a member of the Meridian Museum of Art and is actively involved in Mississippi Children ’ s Museum-Meridian ’ s MCM-Partners program . She also works part time at Generations Paper and Gifts .
She said she doesn ’ t feel a need to paint every day , but heads to her studio when she feels inspired and wants a little quiet time alone .
“ I love painting and I enjoy doing it , and I want to keep enjoying it , so I do it in limited amounts . I don ’ t ever want to get to the point where I feel like I am having to do it , to finish one ,” she said . “ Because I do really love painting and when somebody picks up one of them and they ’ re like , ‘ I really love this ,’ it is very humbling and it makes you feel good and feel honored that somebody loves something you created .” M
Beth Whitehead holds Christmas ornaments she has started painting .
10 • MERIDIAN LIFE