The beauty of life is the journey it can take you on if you allow it. Evergreen watercolorist Beverley Harper Tinsley had a lifetime of experiences before she found her artistic talent. Her boldly colored artwork explores the nature and beauty of the world that surrounds her. But it wasn’t a straight path from her heart to the canvas. Beverley’s work background took her on quite the circuitous journey.
Born and raised in Lakewood, Colorado, Beverley had a mother who encouraged creativity by having supplies available and craft projects at the ready. Her talent was not nurtured at school as she recalls an elementary art teacher’s negative influence: “This teacher wanted everyone to draw really well, but didn’t actually teach it. I wasn’t allowed to move on to the fun part of projects because she would have me draw my pieces over and over again and again.” Beverley withdrew from creating art during those formative years, but revisited it when she went to college at CU Boulder.
While working toward her degree in creative writing, Beverley took a few art classes that rekindled her interest, but she “didn’t think of herself as an artist.” After graduation, she didn’t have a clear path and worked various jobs from service industry to financial securities to costume shop associate. She then pursued her ESL (English as a Second Language) certification through a program in Portugal. Once certified, she taught ESL in Germany and Seattle, then ultimately found her way back to Colorado.
As always is the case with teaching, the pay was incredibly low and she needed supplemental income to make ends meet. While teaching ESL in Colorado, she had a friend who encouraged her to be an art model for classes at the Art Students League in Denver. After teaching all day, she would sit for art classes at night.
She constantly found herself coveting being on the other side of the easel. “On my breaks, I’d go and see what everyone was painting and talk with the artists,” she says.
After juggling such a workload for years, Beverley knew she needed out of the stressful grind. She met her husband in Denver and before long they were married and had a baby girl. Due to astronomical childcare costs, it was wisest for her to stay home with her child. It was Beverley’s husband who encouraged her to revisit painting. “I began taking art classes at night and knew right away this is something I’m supposed to be doing,” she says. For Beverley, there is a “sense of timelessness when making art that feels like freedom.”
Several art classes later, Beverley gained momentum, and for the first time recognized her talent, but it still didn’t come easy. “It can take me quite a while to finish a painting,” she claims. Much like her personality, Beverley’s watercolor pieces are colorful, bold and whimsical. Her artwork is influenced by the natural world with a focus on birds, trees and animals. A favorite subject is the female fox that has been comfortably dwelling about her Kittredge property. With a nod toward the abstract, Beverley captures the serene creature with a compilation of soft brush strokes that illuminate its gentleness.
It took Beverley several years of painting and experimenting to rise to the masterful caliber she is at today. “I had to do a lot of bad paintings to get to the good,” she laughs. One of her teachers admired her style and suggested she enter a piece into a student show. From that point forward, Beverley continued to enter various art shows which provided the necessary confidence to approach local galleries.
Throughout her artistic journey, Beverley learned about the value of quality watercolor paper and to face her early reservations regarding drawing. Her process begins with a vision or picture for inspiration, then a sketch before diving into her watercolor pallet. Color is often her driving force and will sometimes guide an entire piece. “I like really saturated color and find one color can take me on a whole journey,” she shares. This truth can be seen throughout Beverley’s vibrant collection.
To see more of Beverley Harper Tinsley’s work, check out her website at bhtartist.com. Her paintings are also on display at Shadow Mountain Gallery in Evergreen and Portfolio Gallery of Breckenridge. Her work also beautifies the walls of several mountain cafes: Evergreen Bread Lounge, Blackbird Cafe, Parkside Cafe, Cabin Creek Brewing, and Logan House Coffee in Denver RiNo district.