About
How I transformed from an amateur artist working at a desk job to having my work appear in TV and Movies, being sought out by renowned influencers, teaching art to celebrities, and helping thousands of artists fulfill their creative visions...
NICE TO MEET YOU, I'M BETH GATZA
Meet the Team
Although we may not be a large team, I cherish the family and friends who have supported me in creating these courses, the website, the platform, and our amazing community. I am fortunate to have a wonderful and supportive husband, and being a full-time mom to our incredible daughter— with another little one on the way—brings me immeasurable joy.
Over the past four years, I have poured my heart and soul into building this platform from scratch. Late into the night, after my daughter has drifted off to sleep, I have diligently developed courses, filmed and edited content, built the website, and crafted every piece you see online. None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of my friends and family.
I am grateful for the assistance of my trusted friend, Cheryl Neswick, who lends her expertise to our social media presence. My wonderful mother actively participates in our vibrant community, and my incredible husband is my guiding light, igniting my determination whenever doubt creeps in.
Every endeavor I undertake is rooted in a deep commitment to honor my students, my family, and myself. Drawing from years of experience in the film industry, as an art educator, and fueled by my unwavering love for the creative process, I strive to produce content that embodies the highest standards. My greatest aspiration is to witness your growth as an artist, helping you realize the dreams you have always held dear.
To dive deeper into my personal journey, I invite you to explore the stories and timeline below. Thank you! - Beth
Finding My Canvas: A Journey Through Art and Life
Ever since I can remember, art and film were not just interests, but passions that coursed through my veins. With a degree in film and a minor in fine art, I set out to make my mark, living in Chicago moving to Los Angeles, and immersing myself in the bustling world of film sets. Life was a whirlwind of travel, from city to city, country to country. My suitcase was my constant companion, but amidst the chaos, something felt missing. I always had this nagging feeling, a quiet voice in the back of my mind, reminding me of my love for portrait painting. Unfortunately, I was so caught up in chasing job after job in the film industry that I hardly found time to listen to that voice.
The Turning Point
Then, life threw a curveball. A major health emergency not only drained my finances but also forced me back to living with my parents. Away from the city's hustle, away from my friends, I found myself battling not just for physical recovery but also from a deep-rooted professional burnout. In this solitude, my longing for a transformation grew. I poured my time into waitressing and commercial set work, saving every penny with a dream shimmering on the horizon – Los Angeles.
Embracing the City of Dreams
Los Angeles was both a dream and a challenge. Working on film sets, both locally and internationally, I felt my passion for film slowly ebbing away. So, I found solace in the structured world of working in education. Alone in this vast city, I rediscovered my love for art. Hours were spent painting portraits, crafting graphic novels, and finding community in my spin classes. Painting became not just a hobby, but an unquenchable thirst, a relentless desire to create. Yet, satisfaction eluded me – my portraits never quite captured what I envisioned, igniting an obsession to master the art of portrait painting.
A Quest for Realism and Style
I became obsessed with wanting to make my portrait paintings look more realistic without sacrificing my style, and I spent all of my free time and money trying new materials and trying to reverse-engineer the works of the masters. Yet, I could not find anyone to talk to about it.
Just like many other creatives, many of my family, friends, and colleagues could not understand or appreciate the intensity of my passion for art. When I searched for a community online, I was met with artists who seemed to be in competition with one another, where judgments, unsolicited advice, and criticism were exchanged instead of genuine support and encouragement.
Love in a Small Canvas
Then, in the most unexpected of places – my desk job – fate introduced me to my future: the new IT guy, who would become my husband, best friend, and the greatest advocate of my art. For the first time, I had someone who shared my love for art, someone who saw my dreams as tangible realities, someone who encouraged me to push through my fears and insecurities. Together, we braved the challenges of living in a cramped 400-square-foot apartment in Los Angeles, a space too small for my ambitious seven-foot-tall paintings. But it was in this cozy chaos that I made my greatest artistic breakthroughs, driven by a love that believed in the vastness of my dreams.
When Dreams Unfold
2015 marked the beginning of an exciting chapter. My artwork began attracting attention, leading to opportunities I had never imagined. I became an art teacher at a prestigious private school in Los Angeles, teaching children of celebrities and A-listers. My portraits were commissioned for film, television, and high-profile influencers. In between, I devoted time to my own portfolio, cherishing moments with my husband, and embracing the joy of our growing family.
Navigating
Through Life’s Storms
Since 2019, life has been a whirlwind. Pregnancy led to disability leave, and soon, the arrival of our beautiful daughter. Returning to teaching was short-lived as the pandemic reshaped our world, thrusting me into the realm of online teaching, with an infant in tow. The challenges were immense, but so were the rewards. I left my teaching job to start two businesses, develop online courses and workbooks, all while nurturing hundreds of students in a personalized online environment. Sleepless nights were frequent, but every moment spent sharing my passion made it worthwhile.
Why I Do It
I often reflect on my early days of struggle, the desperation to learn and grow as an artist. These memories now shape the curriculums and community I offer my students. Teaching is more than a profession – it’s a source of joy, a way to connect with like-minded individuals worldwide, and an opportunity to leave a lasting impact. It allows me to share my journey with my family, showing my daughters that dreams are attainable with hard work, discipline, and a supportive community.
Sharing my artistic 'secrets' feels as natural as breathing, a testament to my belief in the power of passing on knowledge. It's fulfilling to see my students overcome obstacles that once held me back, and watching them flourish fuels my own creativity. Through teaching, I've found my purpose not just as an artist, but as a mentor, shaping the next generation of creative minds. In this journey, I've discovered that my true calling isn't just in creating art, but in inspiring and guiding others to find their own artistic voice.
That's the real reward, and it's why I do what I do.
The 3 Biggest Struggles I Had as an Amateur Artist
One of the hardest things I encountered when trying to figure out how to improve my work was the feeling of being alone on my journey. At that time, I was painting nights and weekends to try and reverse engineer the masters' works. Painting portraits has always been my passion, but I struggled so hard to get my portraits to where I desired them to be. I always compared my work to others and felt as though they had found their success due to some innate talent, or that they had attended an art academy; consequently, my chance to produce the art of my dreams felt lost.
Looking back at that time now, I have narrowed down what my most difficult struggles were as an amateur artist.
Feeling Lost
I didn't know that portrait painting was a process, kind of like the process of making bread. I know this sounds silly, but I didn't realize that there was an order of steps or materials that could help me achieve realism so quickly, without sacrificing my style.
Feeling Overwhelmed
I didn't realize that the resources online were only teaching me a very specific part of that process. At first, I believed that each of those "things" was what made a great painting. I didn't know that it was only one piece of the puzzle.
Feeling Embarrassed
Even though I had spent my life as an artist did not mean that I knew how to paint the portraits of my dreams. It actually made things more challenging because I felt embarrassed to reach out to others, or artists were too secretive to share the secrets of their success.
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