Bethany Bartholomew

Watercolor dreamscapes rooted in folklore, family, and the natural rhythm of rural Ohio.

Story

Bethany Bartholomew was raised in rural Ohio, home schooled in a farm house. She loves to think back on her days playing in the mud, running through the woods, playing inside and around an old hollowed out log, all while letting her mind be carried away in thoughts of fairies and trolls and goblins and good witches and bad witches.

As the daughter of interracial parents, she has a love of cultural diversity. She has a knack for depicting race and culture within her work. She loves to include other ethnicities within her fairy tale pieces. Growing up, there was a lack of little girls who looked like her in storybooks, so she has focused on including everyone in her paintings.

Currently

Illustrating picture books with Sawdust Publishing, developing two original worlds — Pebblewick and the Hidden Cryptid Alliance — and seeking a literary agent for children’s book work.

Mission

Creating inclusive fairy tale art that represents children of all backgrounds through watercolor paintings featuring diverse characters in fantasy and fairy tale settings.

Artistic Style

Watercolor paintings with whimsical characters in enchanted forest settings, emphasizing cultural diversity and childhood wonder.