By Natalie Keller
Bela Fidel and Flag, Photo by Natalie Keller
Bela Fidel is an artist who eventually migrated to the United States from Brazil where she was born. Before moving to the US, she lived and studied in Israel for eight plus years and was fascinated with the architecture of the old homes and the mosques with minarets. She began drawing and painting what she saw and she experimented with different mediums. Bela predominately painted Surrealist style and used her inner feelings and thoughts as her interpretation of the art. After her schooling, she went back to Brazil where she took art classes and slowly became an abstract painter. Bela has been painting abstract since the 90’s.
She eventually moved to Los Angeles where she met her equally creative husband and settled down. She
is proud that he wrote the lyrics for a Disney song in the movie “The Fox and the Hound”, although his other profession is a marketing consultant. There is also another side of Bela that is worth mentioning…her quiet manner and petite form belies her fiery passion as an animal rights activist. Her “heart is huge” caring for the animals and she volunteers at the Foothills Animal Shelter. Bela and her husband now live in Scottsdale with their dog and cat.
Bela’s said she has been creating art since 1965. She was active in art leagues and sold paintings in LA before moving to Scottsdale. Bela has several ribbons and articles on the wall of her studio and is excited about what she has accomplished. She’s taken numerous art classes in Arizona and now paints daily in her studio.
“Encaustic for Website” by Bela Fidel
She gives lessons and has incorporated encaustic art along with her abstract art. Looking around her studio, among other artifacts you will see numerous cans of colored wax with brushes…a colorful picture in itself! I asked her to explain her encaustic art process for the readers. Bella stated she buys bags of wax chips which she then melts and adds pigment for color. The pigment can be oil paint or commercial dry pigment. She melts the wax with a hand held torch and places the wax on the support, which can be canvas, wood, or anything else that will hold the wax in a creative design. She uses a brush to push the wax into the desired shape; she may use other items to make a design on to the wax. Bella stated that the technique is 5000 years old. She learned it 17 years ago at the Shemer Art Center and later taught there. Bela incorporates pastel chalks with encaustic and oil painting mixed media. She also teaches encaustic at her studio.
Bela has been in Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour and Sale for nine years. She belongs to the Sonoran Arts League since 1998 and has shown her art in numerous venues around Arizona. She is currently exhibiting in a four women show at the Holland Center of Fine Art until February 27, 2015. Call for details: 480-488-1090.
There is a lot of activity in her studio and she welcomes visitors by appointment. Her studio is off Dynamite Road, North on 67th Street, left on E. Roy Roger Road to #7507 and the sign “Art” at the 2nd driveway. The door will be open and the dog may greet you first…but Bella will be happy to show you her variety of creative art. Telephone for appointment: 480-221-6947.
“Musings” by Bela Fidel
“Infinite Circles” by Bela Fidel
“Pentimenti” by Bela Fidel
March 2, 2015
Dear Bela,
When I read this about you I thought of this saying below my sister just sent to me to save and to show to my grandchildren who visit twice a week after school. I am also an artist and an avid animal lover.
“IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU HAVE ENOUGH ART SUPPLIES AND YOU DON’T NEED ANYMORE, STOP TALKING TO THEM. YOU DON’T NEED THAT KIND OF NEGATIVITY IN YOUR LIFE.”
Cheers, Patty