Betsy Youngquist Creates Surreal Beaded Animals With Human Features

Image by @betsyyoungquist / Instagram

Betsy Youngquist’s 3D mixed media artwork involves doll parts, beads, and crystals. She creates surreal creatures that have some human features but are mostly animals.

“History and the energy of times past are contained in old materials, in addition to bead color and bead variations that you can’t find among contemporary beads,” the artist explains. “While playing in my studio I love the intuitive dance of selection, when everything starts humming along and I know which bead choices to make. Beads as a material are ancient and primal. I love that about them. There is also definitely a meditative quality to working with beads.”

Check out her work below.