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Whether it is painting, drawing, murals or collage, Beth Servais brings to life her personal experiences and continually draws inspirations from her love for picture books, marbles and nature. Servais’s art not only reflects her stories, but it also brings people together.

Beth Servais

Servais is truly multi-interested and multi-talented. She started college at UW-Green Bay as a human biology major before switching to art with an emphasis in museum practices and minor in nonprofit management. Today Servais divides her time between a new position as the fund development and marketing coordinator at Harbor House, her Oshkosh-based creative space, Matchbook Studio, and various community projects.

With soft brushstrokes, vibrant primary color palettes and influences from nature, Servais’s paintings reflect her personality – enthusiastic and always with a childlike ingenuity. This balances out the dark and abstract figures in her paintings as she navigates through her experiences, challenges and struggles. The contrast between lightness and darkness is a trademark of her work.

“My creative process helps me explore and confront parts of me that would otherwise be suppressed,” Servais shares.

Servais has been taking on more collages during her time as the summer artist-in-residence at the Appleton Public Library. “Collage is great because it helps people feel relaxed while being creative,” shares Servais. “They don’t feel intimidated…it is taking their relationships with art to the next level and not taking it away from them.”

Servais’s latest project, a mural commissioned for the Appleton Public Library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program, has been her biggest and favorite to date. “I am really excited; [the library] is inviting kids and their families to see it,” she says. “We will have kids trying their hands at painting their own murals as well.”

Recently Servais decided to pursue her art further in a new combined studio and living space in Appleton. This means leaving her current space at Matchbook Studio where she has been for the last two years. “Although it has been really fun [at Matchbook Studio], I feel tied to Appleton and hope to contribute more to the art scene here.”

See more of Servais’s work at matchbook-studio.com