The Artist
My name is Bethany Ann Neigebauer, owner of BAN Artwork. I am a digital, visual and installation artist based out of Durham, NC.
My entire life has been one long, colorful exploration of all things creative. From an early age I began drawing on any unoccupied surface I could find. If only my parents had known then, when they caught me scribbling all over the walls of my bedroom, that I was simply practicing for my future art installations – perhaps they would not have been so upset! Scribbles became drawings in sketchbooks, which became paintings. Journals became poems, which became graphic novels. Singing became violin, which became a spontaneous pandemic purchase of a cello. Somewhere in this timeline, I discovered the art of architecture, and I fell in love with that too. My Masters in Architecture program took me to Italy, and I was introduced to the art of romance languages and old-world cuisine. This whirlwind exploration of creative paths built and reinforced an idea that has become a cornerstone of my artistic career – there is no right or wrong way to experience or participate in art. But more on that in a bit.
On any given day, you can find me dabbling, learning, and escaping into any number of these mediums. My current obsession, however, is digital and installation art. Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic forced me to connect with the world from a more virtual perspective. This forced experience manifested in a deep-dive into graphic design, animation, and a daily art practice that has helped me hone these new skills and produce a series of pieces that I am incredibly proud of. Prints from my digital art series are available on my website. If you like the style of this work and would like to commission a piece, please do not hesitate to contact me.
The Space
Throughout my creative exploration, I have found myself repeatedly drawn to the beautiful connections that form between artists and their local communities. Many of my deepest friendships and most impactful learning experiences were born from connections I made sharing an artistic space. This became increasingly evident a year into the pandemic, as I spent an increasing amount of my time engaged with the digital art community. In that spirit, I decided to create a creative space of my own, BAN Artwork.
While still in its early stages, it is my hope that BAN Artwork becomes a platform which not only allows me to share my own finished works with my community, but also serves as a stepping stone to networking, collaborating, and teaching with fellow artists. At the core of this project is my aforementioned belief that art is inherently open and accepting – there is not right or wrong here. If you are interested in creating and exploring, then you are welcome here, and I would love to connect with you.
In the near future, I will begin exploring livestreams and recorded tutorials – all built around an approachable introduction to different mediums and techniques. To that end, if you have any questions, feedback, or just want to say hello and connect, please reach out through the contact page of my website and introduce yourself! Let’s art together!