Greta Bell

Greta was raised by a family who loved and valued art and artists. Her parents would pile all of the children in their station wagon and go on adventures to visit artists in their studios wherever their family travels took them. Great impressions were made at author readings, live theatre, historical reenactments, country fairs and …. growing up surrounded by art created by craftspeople, folk artists and fine artists she met or heard stories about.  Art was everywhere, always inside and out.

Since the age of five she was taught (though never learned to play)the violin, she wrote stories with no direction or conclusions, danced herself into a corner, failures abounded and multiplied, but her curiosity was never daunted. She admired and practiced hand quilting and knitting hats that didn’t quite fit, she dug clay from a farmers outdoor pit and wove a large stick basket form that became the foundation of her clay oven she used to make artisan sourdough  bread.

Greta started painting after many decades of living. The magic moment happened when visiting her friends grandmother(Mary Sears) who gave her a brush, paint and an old door to paint on.  Many paintings proceeded, though no formal classes were taken. She simply read about techniques and materials, had conversations with working artists, and experimented, always trying to let the light and colors through. 

To be creative, authentic, and passionate was admired and fostered in her childhood home and propels her to this day. 

Living along the Fox river of northern Illinois, Greta is currently working with marionettes, mask making, oil painting,ceramics and stop motion films.

Greta’s paintings can be found in private collections and for the public viewing: Cornell University Keeton House, Paramount Theatre, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Batavia City Hall, Batavia Enterprises, Water Street Studios, Blue Goose of St. Charles and the ever evolving Pop up R/Evolving Circus.