Born and raised in Denmark. 
Since 1998 working and living in Italy. 
Main inspiration "the human form". 
Working with the "space" between people. 
Often working in layers and using the transparency 
to get depth into my painting. 
Layers that can be very different but combined through colors. 

BETTY RITSCHEL

The series "We are all fighting the same war" is a work in progress during Covid19
.
The Covid19 has thrown me back in time, to the period when my children were small. 
I got the feeling about being a ball going up and down from one wall 
to another. 
The lockdown here in Italy where I am has had a very strong impact on all of us. 
During lockdown I had a positive period work wise as restrictions often improve creativity.
Slightly getting started one begins to understand what really happened.
Left with confusion - I’ll use the confusion and the “out of control” 
feeling to: work freely, less controlled and without thinking too much.

There is a lot of struggle and fight going on in this series/paintings. 
We review something new, us who are not used to suffering or have rules for our daily activities

My paintings are a work in progress that follows my daily life situation.
Working upon the daily hurdles that I as mother, wife and artist am going through. 
There are many things to take care of and they suck out all creative energy. 
It is an on going fight and you only manage if you are stubborn and really want 
to stay in front of your canvas. 
I love and need my frustrations, because they continually give me something to work on. 

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2020 Signed and dated on the front
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. 
Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

Mixed media on canvas

Tempera

Pastel

Painting

Body

The funeral
This painting is a study of the theme, “dead or alive”,
a small series made soon after losing a loved one.
In contrast to the figure of death, I choose life.

I work in layers.  
The three layers each represent a moment in life.

1st layer 
A map of the world.
When a child is born we say, ”he was brought to the world this night” and later “he has left the world this morning”.
The light blue map is symbolic of the place where we spend our time during life.
 
2nd 
Mourning figures

3rd layer 
Is a red trace.
An electrocardiogram, that shows in a very exact way whether there is life or not.

The painting is representing life.
The red trace is started and life begins.
The figures in the background are still in a mourning process.
The figures in front are through the process and ready to “face life again”.
I have used more or less only the green colour to symbolize “hope”.

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2012 signed and dated on the front.
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

The painting “Long way from home” is part of a series, which is a kind of diary. 
A work in progress that follows my daily life situation - my world.
Working upon the daily hurdles that I as mother, wife and artist am going through. 
There are lot of things to take care of and they suck out my creative energy. 
It is an on going fight and you only manage if you are stubborn and really want 
to stay in front of your canvas. 

 I love my frustrations, because they continually give me something to work on. 
In this picture I have collected happenings or memories.
They are all jointed in no particular order and united through colours.

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2017 signed and dated on the front
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

The painting “In between stories” is part of a series, which is a kind of diary. 
A work in progress that follows my daily life situation - my world.
Working upon the daily hurdles that I as mother, wife and artist am going through. 
There are lot of things to take care of and they suck out my creative energy. 
It is an on going fight and you only manage if you are stubborn and really want 
to stay in front of your canvas. 

 I love my frustrations, because they continually give me something to work on. 
In this picture I have collected happenings or memories.
They are all jointed in no particular order and united through colours.

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2017 signed and dated on the front
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

The painting “Together again” is part of a series, which is a kind of diary. 
A work in progress that follows my daily life situation - my world.
Working upon the daily hurdles that I as mother, wife and artist am going through. 
There are lot of things to take care of and they suck out my creative energy. 
It is an on going fight and you only manage if you are stubborn and really want 
to stay in front of your canvas. 

 I love my frustrations, because they continually give me something to work on. 
In this picture I have collected happenings or memories.
They are all jointed in no particular order and united through colours.

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2017 signed and dated on the front
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

The painting “Turning home” is part of a series, which is a kind of diary. 
A work in progress that follows my daily life situation.
Working upon the daily hurdles I as mother, wife and artist am going through. 
There are lot of things to take care of and they suck out my creative energy. 
It is an on going fight and you only manage if you are stubborn and really want to stay 
in front of your canvas.

In this painting I’m playing with the athletic skills I needed to take use of,
in order to get through my day and keep everything smooth when my children were babies.
The feeling of haven been running, spinning and jumping around 
the whole day to get everything settled on time.
The idea about being a ball, that goes from one wall to another - up and down.
Totally depended on my children’s well being and their needs.

Original art work, oil and tempera on canvas. 
Year 2018 signed and dated on front.
Gallery wrapped and stretched on a 2 cm deep stretcher frame, 
the edges are painted. 
Shipped stretched and ready to hang.

BETTY RITSCHEL

ABOUT ME