027: Ha'åni Bettis

Ha'åni Bettis is a versatile artist whose exploration of various mediums such as acrylic and gouache painting, henna, and ceramics serves as a path towards understanding her identity.

For Bettis, art is a medium of self-expression, connection with the world, and a celebration of diversity. While she doesn't limit herself to a single art form, painting holds a special place in her heart due to its infinite possibilities and the joy she finds in mixing colors and creating new blends.

As a woman of Chamoru and white heritage, Bettis uses her art as a means of exploring and understanding her identity. Nature, a cherished aspect of her upbringing as an islander, heavily influences her work, reflecting her values and connection to the environment. Through her art, she seeks to define and redefine what her ethnicity means to her, contemplating the significance of her heritage in shaping her artistic expression.

Bettis's journey into art has been a natural progression, rooted in childhood experiences of drawing, crafting, and finding inspiration in her surroundings. From doodling with her father and making mud sculptures at her grandparent’s ranch in Arkansas to sketching horses in French countryside stables and using dried cacti as a 3D medium in Arizona, her passion to create has seemingly been the only constant in her life. After returning to Guam, the beauty of the island became a profound inspiration, driving her to capture its essence in her artwork.

Bettis suggests that being an artist is not just a label but rather a way of life. She views artists as catalysts for introspection, connection, and authenticity in society, brought together by characteristics like courage, adaptability, innovation, and playfulness.

Over time, Bettis’ art has evolved alongside her personal growth, becoming an integral part of her identity. Choosing to become an artist was a natural decision for her, aligning with her inherent creativity and desire for self-expression. She prioritizes creating work that resonates with her own passions and values. Her word of advice to aspiring artists is to embrace authenticity, prioritize their artistic process, and above all, have fun with it!

To read Bettis’ full interview, continue reading below. Also, check out more of her work on Instagram. Thanks again!

Describe what you do.

I learn. Create. I get lost and found through my art. I paint with acrylic and/or gouache mainly. I face paint. I do henna. I doodle. I enjoy sculpting sometimes with organic materials. I have dabbled in ceramics. I just play and express myself.

How would you define art?

Oh, my goodness. Well art for me is connecting with myself and the world around me. It is a gratitude for life. It is expression. It is presence. It is diversity.

Why did you choose your art form?

Well, I do not necessarily identify with one art medium. I do love painting and that is probably the medium I am most familiar with at this time.

I am not sure why I chose it...

I love colors. Mixing them, creating something new, blending it with others to make illusions. I just really enjoy it. There are infinite possibilities of what I can make and there is so much room to grow and learn. I enjoy the challenge and the process. The layers of each piece and the way the image evolves. The process is my favorite and the most grueling part sometimes. once it is finished it is of no use to me anymore ha.

How has your ethnicity/race affected the type of art you make?

Oh, well I am mixed. Half white, half Chamoru. I use my art as an outlet to explore these parts of myself. To better understand them. I am not sure how my ethnicity has played a role in my art because it is just normal to me. Is it my ethnicity or is it just me? Am I my ethnicity? What does it mean to be CHamoru? Half CHamoru. Does that matter? How do I express my white side? And what does that mean?

I have actually taken a DNA test and found that I am quite mixed. A mix of lives, stories.

It is something I have contemplated a lot and come to the conclusion that I am just a person. The time, place, and people I was born to was completely out of my control. And how it has shaped me i am sure comes out in my art, just not sure how because I just see it as me being myself, Ha’ani. If that makes sense. My art is really a space for me to define what my ethnicity/race means to me.

I have always valued nature for as long as I can remember. I believe this is an aspect of being human but especially an islander--when you can so clearly see how everything is connected. Nature is a large part of my art so I would say my values as an islander are reflected in my art.

Additionally, I love using a diverse and vibrant range of colors this could be another way my mixed identity influences art, somehow...ha

How did you get into art?

I see of it more that I am an artist, a creative. It wasn’t something I got into as much as it has always been part of who I am. The opportunity and desire to create has been recurrent in my life, and it was simply matter of me accepting and embracing it.

My dad always gave us kids scratch paper from his work to color on so there was the encouragement to draw when I was young.

I was also intrigued by my dad’s intricate doodles and my older sister’s unique style. I was inspired by others.

As I grew, I would often doodle in class. I would get in trouble for not paying attention sometimes, but doodling helped me to focus. One doodle from my freshman year ended up being the inspiration for the only tattoo that I have.

I remember loving crafts as a kid and was always creating things one I remember was a haunted house made from a cereal box.

I would visit my grandparents in Arkansas over the summer when I lived in the States, and they had a ranch. I would gather the mud by the pond and make sculptures with those.

In high school, I took art and had a great teacher. I found myself very dedicated to the class and assignments. I was exposed to charcoal, drawing, and some printmaking from what I recall.

Out of high school, I was just drawn to it. It was how I expressed myself. I would often give artwork as gifts for friends or family by finding out what they like and incorporating that in the design or just doing a portrait of them.

When I lived as an au pair in France (2013-2014), I rode my bike aimlessly through the countryside and stumbled upon horse stables. I asked the owners if I could sit with the horses and just sketch them. Additionally, I would find a spot in public and just draw people, things, what have you.

When I lived in Arizona, I went on hikes and collected dried cactus pieces and assembled them with hot glue into sculptures.

When I returned to Guam, the beauty of the island just blew me away. It has served as my inspiration for a while now. Capturing nature. Art also is a space for me to do a lot of reflection, even now I still do self portraits as I continue to grow. My family and I go to the beach on the weekends, and I usually do henna on myself, just doodling. It is relaxing for me and helps me to be present.

So, again, I am not sure if it is something I got into as much as it just felt natural.

Who do you idolize?

No one...I don’t think idolization is healthy, ha but I do admire people. Specifically, other artists who find a way to create and be themselves in a world where creatives are not meant to thrive. I appreciate witnessing other unique styles as I search for my own. I enjoy how people’s identity/spirit really shines in their artwork.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Ah, life. People, emotions, things that are not typically viewed as beautiful or appealing, those little special gems you witness when you are living with appreciation and presence, emotions, plants, food, my journey. Nature mostly.

I am currently studying agriculture at UOG with minors in art and nutrition. I am very passionate about returning to our roots, following the cycles of the land and water through food. Sustainable practices. Eating food that we can trust and that will nourish us deeply.

As an adult and a mother, I make efforts to be diligent about my healing journey and making sense of my emotions, triggers, fear, love, acceptance, judgement, connection, anxiety, etc.. As I reflect on who I am and who I want to be, the process of making sense of it all is inspiration for me.

When others are able to create in their own way, express themselves in atypical, unconventional ways, especially for things they are passionate about, that is what inspires me – Authenticity.

What do you do when you're stuck on an artwork or lacking motivation or inspiration?

I’ll leave the piece to sit until I am ready to revisit it. I like to leave it somewhere where I can see it regularly and just look at it. Sometimes the pieces change drastically, sometimes just slightly and there have been gaps of artwork that I have returned to after three/four years. Just depends on the piece.

What do you like incorporating most into your art?

Colorsss. I love putting as many colors as I can.

Textures. I love trying to capture the unique textures that different things possess.

Details. I enjoy adding detail, creating a little world in my canvas.

What is something that you add to your art as like your signature?

Hmm, I still feel like I am in the beginning of my artist journey and my style is still coming into its own.

Take us through your process for making art.

Depends on what I’m working on. For a painting, i usually start with a sketch in pencil to get familiar with the space, forms, light, etc. I may do some research depending on what elements I am adding (people, animals, plants, landscape, etc.) to be anatomically or culturally correct. Or, I like to take pictures just with my phone and use that for my reference. I prep the canvas with a coat of paint, so it isn’t just white, then I find the painting in the canvas starting with general shapes, layers, and gradually getting more detailed. What ensues is a mix of flow and frustration, push and pull, as I find a balance between what I want and what is meant to come out. Some time. Then I decide I am done at some point, I’ll sign and varnish it. After which it’ll collect dust in a corner until there’s an opportunity to display it.

What do you struggle with the most when making art?

Diving in. Working through my inner critic and trusting in the process. Allowing the artwork to flow and not controlling it. Letting it be messy or not perfect. Letting myself be seen wholly. Again, this theme of authenticity is something I try to capture in my art.

What role do artists have in society?

I would like to add that I still am learning to identify with the label of an ‘artist.’ The definition of which is very curious to me as there is so much to creating, being a creative. It is not a side hobby; it is a way of life for me that is not limited to the canvas but is who I am and how i see the world. It is not a switch i turn on and off. While it is helpful to have labels to communicate, my philosophy is that everyone is innately creative in some way. It is just our society that has us try to box that up. Those of us who are simply called to dive deeper, have a role to remind everyone else how to be human. To provide perspective and space to contemplate and feel. To be vulnerable. To connect. To reveal. To capture. To live. A lot of action words aha.

What characteristics do you think all artists share?

Courage

Adaptability

Innovation

Playfulness

Appreciation

Awesomeness

What’s your favorite place in Guam?

My home or my village of Malesso’.

I was born on island but moved to the States when I was 7. Moved and travelled extensively and I returned when I was 22 --- very much tired of large cities and the hustle and bustle. Now I often find developed places overwhelming and suffocating.

I have lived in Malesso’ for about 6 years now. It is beautiful and serene, moving at a pace uniquely its own.

My home is in a valley with the jungle as my backyard- a stark and refreshing contrast to what I grew up with. I have a garden that I tend to and that tends to me. I have dogs, cats, and chickens. There’s a river that flows behind my home during the rainy season. The power and water can be unpredictable at times, little fire ants (LFA) thrive in the environment (they have a very painful sting), pigs come and tear up plants or our trash, our wifi connection is horrendous. But I love it. The unpredictability. The untamed lifestyle. Being close to nature is where I thrive, and it provides a nurturing and tranquil space.

How has your artwork evolved over time?

Whew, it has grown with me. It is simply a reflection of myself. It started as a space to play, I did not really take it seriously but as I have grown it provides a sense of soothing and peace that nothing else really does. It has evolved into an integral part of who I am. As I connect more with myself, my artwork captures my evolution, becomes more personal? I am not sure...this is something I probably have to think about more. I appreciate this question.

Why did you choose to become an artist?

I am a creative individual. To deny myself of being an artist would be to deny who I am. I choose to live a life I enjoy and not one of repression.

Is your art geared towards a specific audience?

I do not think so...I think the audience I have been focusing on lately is myself.

On my journey, I have tried to appeal to others. Tried the capitalist route and found it really was not for me. What gave my art meaning and purpose was that I was passionate about creating it. It is not a job for me, it is a lifestyle. So, my most important audience currently is myself. That being said, I do hope others are moved by it and it can provide a fresh perspective.

Do you have any tips for aspiring artists?

Hmm, art is a very personal endeavor. Let go of others’ expectations and do what feels true to you.

Make time for it. Prioritize it.

Learn some art history, see what has been done, learn from it.

Have fun!

028: Carly Munoz

026: Irena Keckes