Beate Krogh: Painting to create balance

By Eva-Kristin U. Pedersen | Photos: Beate Krogh

Bright colours and joyous strokes define the art of Beate Krogh, who paints both to express and cultivate happiness. Scan Magazine talks to the Norwegian artist, about how art helps her create a better balance in life.

“Painting makes me happy. I like to paint when I’m happy, but I also realise that when I’m down, taking the time to paint is likely to make me happy again.” The reasoning of Norwegian artist Beate Krogh, also known as Bea Paintings, is simple and straightforward.

As she speaks, she frequently bursts into a contagious laughter that seems to come from the same source that inspires much of her art; her paintings burst with joy and full of bright, happy colours.

Beate Krogh in her atelier.

Of light and darkness

A self-taught artist, Krogh started painting 15 years ago and has not stopped since. To her, it is about using art to create balance in her own life and, in turn, the lives of her audience and clients. “It’s about light and darkness, isn’t it?” she says and continues: “Creating a balance between the two. What matters most to me is the feeling of being able to do that.” She accompanies the last sentence with a broad smile.

Krogh explains that some of her friends have also suggested that her paintings reflect the balance that she has found in her own life and in her relationships, and she admits that might be true. “All art is a self-portrayal, isn’t it?” she asks rhetorically.

Vinterlys over fjorden. Photo: Pål Bikset

Yet, the joy reflected in her current pictures was not always that dominant. Many of her motifs are of independent but lonely queens; like her personal favourite called simply Lonely Queen.

Krogh explains that when she started painting, she never set out to paint a lonely queen, but still ended up doing so and was struck when someone pointed it out to her. “I suppose I experienced that myself – how important it is to be a queen in your own kingdom,” she says.

Another of her personal favourites – and equally telling of the path art has taken her on – is The Power of Human Beings, which depicts a ring of fire with a group of women in the middle. “It shows how strong women can be when we stand together,” Krogh explains.

Sky kables. Photo: Pål Bikset

Success rests on layers of failures

The self-awareness reflected in her titles is characteristic for the way Krogh goes about her artistic work. She explains that she almost always works on several paintings at the same time, perhaps leaving one canvas to rest as she waits for the inspiration she needs to complete it. “Each of my paintings consists of several layers and many failures. That’s where the joy comes from – when I, in the end, manage to overcome them.”

Although self-taught, Krogh is hesitant when it comes to seeking a formal art education. She is afraid it might damage her creativity rather than give it a boost.

“I just can’t find any pleasure in being told what to do or having to squeeze what I do into a given shape,” she explains.

Photo: Pål Bikset

Selling is important

Krogh is fortunate – she can justify her choice, knowing that her art is popular with clients. While she has a small gallery along with other artists, Krogh’s by far most important sales channel is her Bea Paintings web shop.“To me, selling pictures is a very tangible proof that people like what I make and that’s important to me – much more so than knowing that my paintings were exhibited in that gallery or the other,” she says in a frank manner which is rather rare for artists.

She explains that she also accepts pre-orders. “I’m sometimes hesitant because I realise that working on pre-ordered paintings creates a stress I don’t necessarily want. But at the same time, I enjoy the feeling of being able to live up to expectations and I recognise that working with pre-orders makes me develop in a way that I might not have otherwise,” she explains.

While most of Krogh’s motives come from her own feelings and emotions, Norwegian nature plays a significant role, too. Krogh explains that about half of her motifs are drawn from the area around her hometown, Mo i Rana, in Northern Norway.

Where many artists draw inspiration from the melancholy of autumn and from Norway’s forceful winters, Krogh, unsurprisingly perhaps, admits that she prefers summers to winters. “I’m inspired by the sun and by warm weather,” Krogh says – and laughs again.