With Love and Abundance: A Conversation with Andrea Beloff

Andrea Beloff is an American artist, who recently moved to Miami from California. A master of collage and papermaking, Beloff develops a solid body of work currently on view at her studio located in the Bird Road Art District. We joined her to talk about her recent series “LOVE and ABUNDANCE,” and the diverse workshops that she is organizing for all ages during the summer.

By Denise Colson

Denise Colson - You moved to Miami from California in 2012. Why did you choose Miami to establish your gallery and studio?

Andrea Beloff - The way I see it . . . a force greater than me that I know of as God, drove me to Miami.

I resonate with Miami as I am multicultural, speak five languages and am ultimately stimulated by this city. I also came to know that Miami was becoming one of the country’s new centers for the arts.

After establishing my art career in California as a papermaker and collage artist in the tropical landscape niche for 22 years, I had some down years that led to new artistic inspirations. I was changing from the inside and so was my art. Several trips to Miami in 2011 and 2012 determined where this revival would transpire.

So here I am in Miami, with my 14-year-old dream of housing my first gallery/studio and also a wonderful space to offer for other peripheral events.

Artist Andrea Beloff at her studio located in the heart of Miami’s Bird Road Art District.

D.C. - When did you realize that you wanted to be an artist? Let’s talk about your professional background. Where did you study? What studies have influenced your work?

A.B. - I became an artist immediately when I discovered the joy and oneness I felt during the creative process. I showed so much self-determination that my art teacher recommended for me education abroad at Accademia di Belle Arti in Venice, Italy. I learned Italian and in one and a half years was immersed completely in an art school where they taught from a philosophical perspective and allowed the freedom to find yourself through art. I was free from the project-driven form of education taught at University of California, Santa Barbara. I was given a blank wall and told to paint every day-that’s it! And Emilio Vedova, a renowned abstract artist and teacher spoke all morning about philosophy. It was different!

D.C. - What are the sources of inspiration in your art? What series are you working on at the moment? What is the message behind them?

A.B. - Beauty inspires me. Life lessons inspire me. The greatness of God inspires me.

The “LOVE and ABUNDANCE” series is the new works that I am exhibiting at my gallery now and invite everyone to see. It is a fascinating body of work made in the last year and a half that radiates the message of planting seeds in new fertile ground, establishing deep roots for healthy trees and flowers and abundant fruit to grow while explaining how I got there. This work combines watercolor painting with paper collaging and dimensional elements that pop out from the page. Foreign currency from all over the world is torn into it, too. Each piece is presented with its story and Biblical passage to show where the inspiration was captured and what gave it the substance that each piece of art has. It is the testimony of significant changes starting with becoming a Christian.

D.C. - You practice a complex technique that involves traditional Japanese papermaking. Can you describe the process to creating your works? Can you share with us how you learned this process?

A.B. - I came across this process as the last thing I learned while at UCSB from Hiromi Katayama, a master Japanese papermaker. I was so taken by the ritual that is involved in making amazing papers from kozo, the bark of the mulberry bush that grows abundantly in Japan, and a technique practiced since 650 A.D., also in Japan. It is so manual and so labor-intensive but the end result is so magical and how I have applied it to my art is entirely unique and developed by much trial and error. It is a little like painting with your fingers.

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Andrea Beloff, The Sun Will Shine Again. From "Love and Abundance" series

D.C. - How is this creative process related to the message that you want to communicate through your work?

A.B. - I believe that the magnitude of patience and work to create with this paper and how it relates to the message is that it takes much contemplation and deep meditation to flow with the God force; and that only when you do that and let Him take you, you reach that more purposeful place in your life, you reach an inner peace and a strength to endure this world. I think that is also why my work has been so loved and admired. Because I can only work from that Godly place, that is what I communicate; and ultimately we are all making our way back to God.

D.C. - What artists and artistic movements have influenced your work?

A.B. - No one really. I am a pioneer in my field. I am in love with the creative process. I admire Joan Miró, Matisse and Gauguin. Their art takes me. I like a great piece of abstract art; and when I see one I like a lot, it is because I feel they captured that same oneness.

D.C. - Can customers commission works from you?

A.B. - Yes, I am wide open right now for commission work. It is the perfect moment.

D.C. - I know that you organize workshops on a regular basis for children of all ages and adults. Can you provide more information about the workshops that you offer? Are you planning some specific programs for the summer?

A.B. - Since I am new in Miami, I welcome co-creating workshop events with the community to see what ages we want to inspire artistically, depending on the need. I have programs for most ages over 8 years old. I have a summer camp at Key Biscayne Community Center for kids the week of June 24-28 from 2-5 p.m. and another at my gallery July 8-12 also from 2-5 p.m. I promise great projects. One will be a tree, another will be a peace sign and another may be one to pick from. Each project will entail thinking, expressing through art and talking about each individual creative journey of said art. I will also pick a day to show the final projects to the community.

The website at www.andreabeloff.com is a good way to stay posted on workshops. Fourth Saturdays of the month are always open for children’s workshops from 3-5 p.m. Evening ones can be scheduled for the Paint Your Heart Out workshop for adults or teens and the new Peace Out workshop.

D.C. - What are your goals? Are you working on any exhibitions for the upcoming months?

A.B. - This summer is more geared to continuing to diffuse the “LOVE and ABUNDANCE” exhibit, children and adult workshops and summer camp. I personally will create time to start an abstract series of oil paintings and paper collage also with possible pop-out elements. I will surprise myself and then I will surprise you!

Andrea Beloff Fine Art is located at 4678 SW 72nd Ave., Miami, FL 33155 / Phone: 305 773 0358 / www.andreabeloff.com

Denise Colson is an arts writer based in Miami.