Mink, Beckie
Artist Statement
I have always been creative and enjoy working with my hands. I have created many forms of art over the years in several kinds of mediums. From batik wall art, slab clay work, handmade papers, handmade soaps, just to name a few, and turning some of them into successful businesses along the way.
I have always loved different fibers and textures, it all started when I was 10 years old. I wanted to make christmas cards for my family and friends. so I gathered up some old manila file folders, cut them into cards, glued felt to them , then gathered items from nature from our backyard and glued them to the front of the cards. Since then my journay as an artist has never stopped.
In 2004 I was looking for something new to feed my creative side, I found it in a basketweaving book. I just knew right away it was for me, all the textures, fibers, colors, my mind was running wild. I couldn’t wait to get started. Basket weaving gives me such freedom. I love using an antler as the handle for a basket, it can become any shape, giving the finished basket such creator.
Some of the things I enjoy using in my baskets are natural ropes, wool roving, handspun yarns, feathers,grasses, but the possibilities are endless, thats what makes it so exciting. When I think back on it now, I realize all my art work over the years has always incorporated lots of textures, fibers, and things from nature.
Even today every time I start a new basket I still get that same excitement and rush that I got from the very first basket I ever made. I just can’t wait to finish it and see how it is going to turn out.
About Beckie Mink
Beckie Mink is creative at heart; she has explored many art forms over the years but finds basket weaving is her favorite. Her journey into this wonderful art form started in 2004 with a book from a local book store.
The “rib” style basket has fast become her style, because it gives her such freedom, allowing the basket to have its own unique shape.
She was born and raised in Salem, Oregon.
In 1977 she married and with her husband raised two sons in the beautiful Santiam Canyon, east of Salem. In 1997 after a life changing event, she and her sons moved to Sunriver, Oregon. She loves Central Oregon and all it has to offer.
She has found over the last few years weaving different fibers and textures into her baskets became more fun and interesting then weaving the more traditional “all reed” style basket.
It has given her the creativity to feed her heart and mind and so has become, “her style” in the basket weaving world.
She says, “The possibilities are endless as to what you can weave into a basket, and isn’t that so exciting.”
Buy Beckie Mink’s Artwork at Shop.Donterra.Com
Follow Beckie’s Updates on Twitter
Artist Code: BM
