Betty Woo Retrospective: Life Well-Travelled

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Betty Woo with sketchbook & self-portraits (photo by Donna H. Hagerman)

Opening Reception: Tuesday, September 18th, 6:30pm

The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts showcases long-time instructor, visual artist, sculptor and world-traveller Betty Woo in Betty Woo Retrospective: Life Well-Travelled—an exhibition that captures 50 years of Woo’s original works via a visual narrative of watercolour, acrylic, and oil paintings, figurative drawings, Chinese Brush Stroke and sculpture. Working in a broad range of media and subject matter, Woo explains that she finds the portrait and figure “especially complex and challenging. The lively execution of a person’s image and the portrayal of the subject’s mood are equally important when creating a portrait.” Woo continues, “Conversely, I love the unique and simplistic, yet graceful beauty of Chinese Brush Paintings. It requires discipline and self-confidence to create value and dimension using spontaneous brushstrokes, as there is no correction on rice paper. I love the crispness and transparency of watercolour.

The versatility of acrylic and the richness of oil inspire me.”

Betty Woo’s artistic abilities came about easily as from an early age she realized her desire for a career in art, specifically as an art instructor. Woo subsequently directed her education and arts practice toward this goal and for nearly 25 years she has inspired hundreds of students at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts as well as at other Metro Vancouver arts venues. Woo’s dedication, approach and technical proficiency are ideal traits for a visual arts instructor–a vocation Woo considers to be her true calling as do her students.

“This was amazing. Betty unlocked the magic I always knew lived in watercolour! Encouragement personified! Thank you Betty!” —Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Visual Arts Student

While teaching visual arts is the impetus of Woo’s art career, her artistic practice is more personal in nature. The artist’s extensive travels throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East have greatly influenced her art career as well as provided her with essential reference materials for her private art practice. Woo relies on an invaluable sketch book to capture impressions of her experiences. From observing the expressions of new friends dining at a quintessential Italian villa to creating quick sketches of a sculptor working in his studio, this reference tool, paired with her exceptional ability to transform these travel experiences into works of art, are critical to Woo’s practice.

Artist Bio

Working with watercolour, acrylic and oil as well as Chinese Brush Stroke and figurative drawing, accomplished artistBetty Woo is a fine arts graduate who majored in both painting and sculpture and finds artistic expression bothchallenging and rewarding. Woo arrived in Vancouver from Taiwan in 1968 and directed her arts practice into a career asa Visual Arts Instructor. A decision that, in combination with her world-travels, has brought the artist much joy throughouther career. Since 1975, Betty Woo has exhibited in over 60 solo and group exhibitions in Canada, USA, Italy, Japan,Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan.

“I’m happy. My whole life is working in art. I do what I really wanted to do.”  —Betty Woo, Portraitist, Sculptor, Visual Art Instructor