Featured Artist Bettina Madini | Artsy Shark

Painter Bettina Madini shares her artist story and a stunning collection of ethereal landscapes. See more of her work by visiting her website.

 

 

I was born in Berlin, during the time of the Cold War, into a very protective family. I was shy and didn’t trust the world. Since I loved music and dancing, my parents sent me to a high school with a strong focus on foreign languages and the arts.

 

 

I became a teen actress. This forced me out of my protective shell. As my parents viewed the artistic path as too dangerous for me, they steered me into the banking world. After completing my apprenticeship, I spent quite some time in the financial world in Germany and later in Luxembourg.

 

 

During all these years, my yearning for artistic creation had grown into a burning fire. With the luxury of a comfortable lifestyle, it seemed nearly impossible to take the risk. But I needed change. I started going to art school in Luxembourg in the evenings and on weekends, and my being began to breathe in this nurturing energy that I required.

 

 

With my first successful exhibitions in Luxembourg, I began to build my foundation. In 2003, an opportunity presented itself to me. I let go of that chapter of my life and went to New York City with a few suitcases.

 

 

I went to the National Academy of Art and Design in New York and studied painting and drawing with fabulous artists such as Susan Shatter, Sharon Sprung, Wolf Kahn and Henry Finkelstein. A year into this new life, it was clear to me that there was no turning back. I had found my new timeline! I sailed with the challenges and inspirations, in the midst of a total remake of my being in a different continent, in a new city.

 

 

We never know exactly when the window is going to be open for us to spread our wings and fly. I had to learn one of my hardest lessons: patience. Now I can see this, but I did not see it then. I had to be present each moment to recognize the opening, take the chance and trust my gut instinct. No one can tell us what’s right and good for us. We have to trust ourselves and know that, even if things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, we can always choose again.

 

 

So, many more turns and choices later, I moved to the Midwest, where I’m now living and working as an artist with my partner in our beautiful country home. We are growing our garden and planting trees. I’m painting with oil, acrylic and watercolor, and I’m a silk painter. I grew my artist studio into a small art business, and we are traveling the country doing events and art fairs. In 2018, I launched my own line of wearable art labeled Magical Bodies.

 

 

To this day, I keep my strong connection with New York City, which has been such a catalyst for me. I’m studying with Ronnie Landfield at the Art Student’s League in New York. And the journey continues.

 

Bettina Madini invites you to follow on Instagram, Facebook and to visit her other website.

 

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!