I create art inspired by my love for adventure, exploring, & nature.
Hi! My name is Bethany Richards Dority.
I grew up in a small town in West Texas, where the endless sky and wide open plains of my family’s ranch was the early setting for my love of nature and exploring. I could often be found gazing at the sky from the roof of my family’s home, or getting lost in my imagination while playing in the pasture with my sisters. From an early age I made art in many different mediums and styles, but have always expressed myself with magic and whimsy.
My artistic ventures include a variety of approaches: I’ve created large-scale murals spanning an entire wall in a home, multi-media art on canvas mixing painting, fabric and embroidery, as well as more traditional acrylic and watercolor paintings. My latest art combines my love for my current home in Northern New Mexico with my love for painting on glass. I paint high desert landscapes and florals with the vibrancy and enchantment that I believe are only revealed to those who are open to seeing it. My reverse glass paintings involve starting with the details and highlights painted on the back of the glass to which I build the layers backward to create the depth and full image. The end result is difficult to predict and is usually a surprise, one that is always filled with wonder just like this beautiful state!
My education, profession, and personal lived experiences provide me with a constant stream of inspiration. My love for New Mexico began when I attended art school at the College of Santa Fe, graduating with a degree in art therapy in 2009. After a drastic career change including medical school and a medical residency I was finally able to return to Santa Fe in 2020 with my wife and our son to begin my career as a physician. As a hospital doctor by day, I always strive to bring the liveliness, joy, and heartfelt connection to my patients as I do to my art. Life is just more fun that way!