Local artist Beth DeJesus England is bringing the historic charm of Williamsport to life through her latest exhibition of plein air oil paintings, currently on display at the Herdic House through November 4th. The prolific painter completed this impressive collection of ten oil paintings featuring the city's historic buildings in just six months, starting her work in May with the Herdic House itself as her first subject.
England's inspiration for the series came from Williamsport's annual Victorian Christmas tour of local homes, which motivated her to capture the historic structures lining Millionaires Row on Fourth Street. "I've had such an amazing time creating this series," England explains. "Along the way, I've met so many kind and interesting people, who make Williamsport's historic district feel alive. I'm excited to finally share these works with the community."
The exhibition showcases England's distinctive impressionistic style through paintings of notable local landmarks including Park Place, Gap Fellowship Church, and Embick Cottage. All pieces were created using the plein air technique, which involves painting outdoors directly from the subject. "The best part about painting outside is that the fumes don't bother me," England notes. "The light changes, so it can be a challenge." During her outdoor painting sessions, she has encountered memorable moments, including meeting a house painter who had worked on one of her subjects - a gold house whose color particularly attracted her artistic attention.
Beyond her visual artistry, England demonstrates remarkable versatility as a true renaissance woman. She actively performs as a musician, playing fiddle, violin, and rubboard in local bands including Shoofly and Wild Honey. Her musical repertoire spans from bluegrass to country, and she frequently sits in with various bands. Recently, she recorded the song "Lena" with JJ Gair, which is now receiving airplay locally and on streaming platforms like Spotify and iTunes. She performed at the Forksville Inn and Tavern with Shoofly and has an upcoming performance scheduled for December 13th, when Wild Honey will play at the Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Company in Cogan Station from 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. for the "Toys for Kids" fundraiser.
Throughout her artistic career, England has produced and sold hundreds of prints and paintings, working in various media including oils and watercolors, not exclusively plein air pieces. Her talent has been recognized in competitions, including a recent first-place victory at The Wellsboro Wilds Plein Air Festival, where she won the Quick Draw competition by creating an oil painting in under two hours. She has also received numerous commissions from clients, ranging from recreating family homes to capturing wedding ceremonies.
England takes pride in her membership with the Bald Eagle Art League, a community organization supporting local artists. "There are so many talented artists," she acknowledges about her fellow members. When observed recently working on a painting of a footbridge in Montgomery Park - which she playfully calls "the bridge to nowhere" - England demonstrated her artistic process and philosophy. She was adding autumnal leaf colors to enhance the scene's visual appeal, taking artistic license since the actual fall colors had not yet fully emerged. After completing the piece with careful brushstrokes, she signed her name and declared it finished, explaining, "I don't want to overwork it." Those interested in learning more about England's diverse artistic endeavors can visit her website at bethdejesus.com.
