Bec Bookwalter
Discover The Artist Behind The Work
About the Artist
Biography
I am a multidisciplinary artist currently working primarily in painting and photography. My creative practice is guided by intuition, emotion, and exploration rather than rigid plans or predetermined outcomes. I rarely begin with a finished image in mind; instead, I allow each piece to evolve naturally, responding to color, texture, movement, and instinct as the work unfolds.
Much of my creative process begins in an intensely vivid inner world where images, colors, sounds, textures, memories, and emotions are experienced with remarkable clarity. This immersive form of mental imagery, known as multisensory hyperphantasia, profoundly shapes the way I create.
Rather than simply visualizing a subject, I navigate these rich inner landscapes, translating both internal experiences and the world around me through imagination and intuition. The resulting images are not literal representations of what I see, but visual translations of what I experience and feel. Ultimately, creating is both an exploration and an emotional release. Every work becomes a conversation between instinct and lived experience, often revealing ideas and emotions that couldn't be expressed any other way.
Education
2011 - BFA, Lock Haven University (Studio Art with a Minor in Art History)
2011 - AA, HACC (Graphic Design)
Studio
South Central, Pennsylvania, USA
View my Art Portfolio
Artist Statement
My art explores the intersection of emotion, memory, the natural world, and abstraction. Working across painting, photography, and mixed media, I weave together botanical forms, figurative elements, vivid colors, and rich textures to give visual form to experiences that exist beyond words. The images I create are not literal representations of the world, but visual translations of what I feel.
The act of creation is where discovery happens. I value the process as much as the finished piece, allowing the work to evolve through exploration, experimentation, and intuition. By trusting the process to reveal unexpected connections, the finished artwork becomes a lasting record of a journey rather than just a final destination.
I am consistently drawn to the quiet, subtle beauty found in the small details of nature and everyday life that most overlook—the delicate structure of a flower, ripples on the surface of water, the textures of everyday objects, the vast array of colors in a garden, or the graceful curves of a resting figure. Through these visual fragments, I hope to invite viewers to slow down, reflect, and discover their own emotional connections within the work, ultimately deepening their appreciation for the world around us.
Selected Highlights
Over the past two decades, my work has been recognized in exhibitions, publications, and juried competitions, spanning fine art, photography, and design.
Exhibitions & Showings
Group Exhibitions – Student and Regional, 1998–2011
Regional Juried & Member Art Shows, 2004
Local Arts Festivals, 2000-2022
Awards & Recognition
Finalist, 29th Annual College Photography Contest & Published, Best of College Photography 2009, Photographer’s Forum Magazine
Multiple Graphic Design Awards, 2009–2011
Art Scholarships, 2000–2001
Download my Full CV for a complete exhibition history.
Connect
Through my work, I aim to create space for reflections, beauty, and shared human experiences. If my art speaks to you, I invite you to explore my portfolio, read my Studio Journal blog, and step ‘Inside My Studio’ by joining my email list for slow studio updates, stories behind my work, and exclusive first access to new original pieces.
Want to know the more personal side of my journey? Read My Story.
Beyond The Easel and
Life Around The Studio
