"I feel like a phoenix," Beth exclaims with a soft smile.
Last week I had the privilege to sit down with the actor and model (and many other artistic endeavors and talents), Beth Boulay. Beth is a graduate from Southern Oregon University with a BFA in Theatre Arts, specifically the performance arts. She is known for her acting work both on stage and on screen. In addition to that, she started art modeling 7 years ago, as a means to pick up a couple bucks while in college as well as to express a long felt personal interest in the fine arts. Working in a workshop for a long-time friend, colleague, and local artist, she was told by said friend that she was 'a natural'. As she continued forward, she discovered how the modeling aspect became an extension of her work as an actor, especially helpful when not at work in theatre or film. She found that the acting training, specifically in movement, helped her find the best positions as she collaborated with the artist's creative process. In addition, she found the experience both meditative and creative herself, as she would often use lines from monologues as means to find the pose, which in turn helped her develop an understanding of the character within the context of the play.
She explains that she has felt minimal backlash from society based on her choice of employment. Mostly, she faces confusion from both genders, as they aren't completely sure what figure modeling entails. She has found some discomfort trying to explain to potential romantic partners that fine art modeling is in no way a sexual experience.
Any objectification she has felt has people in the classes do not draw her body as seen, but rather enhance parts of herself to fit social norms. These, she explains, are usually less experienced artists. She has felt sometimes disrespected when participants are not cognizant of her time, rather than spend it with the intended purpose of created art, they idle away the time chatting or being social only, which in turn lends itself to their running out of time on a portrait and wanting her to "go over" the allotted time of the class.
In addition, she has encouraged women friends to pursue this line of work themselves. Women friends find this choice of work to be "something they could never ever do" and see her as "very brave". She feels herself an advocate for women and men everywhere. All are welcome, she says.
All are welcome, she says.
Art classes, she explains, are incredibly relaxing environments, where she feels completely at peace with herself and in connection with the artists. She has found incredible respect, appreciation, and understanding for herself from the artists which has enhanced her overall self confidence and body image. To explain, when she started modeling 7 years ago, she found herself at a healthy weight. But then, she began increasingly gaining weight, up to 25 pounds. Unlike the outside world, the artists she worked with expressed how beautiful her belly was which helped her appreciate the beauty of herself no matter the weight, shape, or size. Later, the weight started dropping off at an alarming rate. As the outside world commended her on this, it was her artist friends that questioned her about this, looking more at her health rather than her body image. In a very real sense, they saw her for who she is, not how she looks.
Modeling has become a means of healing and emotional awareness, as she can be vulnerable and open with her artist friends. She has increasingly found the classes to be safe places for her to bring her struggles and find a community to uplift and sit with her through the pain.
One class in particular occurred after a breakup and as the tears fell down her face, an artist was able to capture the moment in a beautiful truthful fashion. (That image has been showcased at galleries around the area, been featured on the front page of the paper, and given as a gift from her father to her mother.)
"I feel like a phoenix," Beth exclaims with a soft smile.
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