Bison are equally at home on the prairie or in the forests of the Black Hills. Their trails can be seen winding among the trees as the buffalo wander throughout the forests, searching for their favorite spot to escape the sun, the other elements of the weather, and to graze. This was the inspiration for my vision of decorating the buffalo. They are part of the landscape, blending into the forests, living as they did long before the white man came into the land.
The entire buffalo is decorated as if a conifer; pine bough sprigs adorn the front legs and chest, pine cone seeds cover the rough and the remainder of the body mimics the bark of a pine tree. In my vision, the bison actually becomes part of the forest and landscape of the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Betty was born and raised in St. Paul, NE. After receiving her B.A. in art education from the University of Nebraska – Kearney, she married Richard Czarnek. She taught art in Greeley, NE for three years, temporarily retiring to raise their three children, then returned to teaching when their children reached school age.
Landscapes and clouds hold a deep fascination for Betty as is evident in her paintings. She feels art is extremely individualized; how one person views something may be entirely different from another’s view. Betty feels it is important to continue to grow as an artist and has done so with her calligraphy work and recently etching on glassware.
This is the fifth year Betty has been chosen to participate in the Custer Stampede Buffalo Art Auction. Her artwork is in private collections from California to Alabama.
