ABOVE: Artist Vicki Beckendorf mounts one of her oil paintings on the gallery wall inside the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont on Friday. Beckendorf will be present at the Artist Meet and Greet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10 at the Red Rock.

FAIRMONT — The featured artist this month at the Red Rock Center for the Arts in Fairmont is Vicki Beckendorf of Odin.

Beckendorf’s passion for painting came to her naturally in the second grade. Memorable teachers she learned under were artists themselves, which further encouraged her curiosity about the hobby. Beckendorf said her former school mentors played a significant role in helping her grow as an artist, but she ultimately discovered her unwavering love for painting by herself.

“I had a habit of talking a lot in class,” Beckendorf recalled with a chuckle.

The time she spent alone as a consequence of disruption served to be mild convenience, as she was able to have a better look at her second grade teacher’s creations.

Beckendorf began her art journey with watercolor and acrylic paints. She explained she uses both mediums today, but prefers oil painting over the two. Oil painting, despite its tedious drying time, is often used by expert painters like Beckendorf, and is praised for its versatility.

At 14 years old, Beckendorf got her first oil paints and easel, which she used in the comfort of her home. Even though she grew up primarily in Detroit and Chicago, she had family that lived near the countryside of Martin County and encouraged her to paint pastures and landscapes before she gradually transitioned into painting people.

She continued to evolve in her skills, creating a diverse portfolio. Beckendorf advanced her education at Minnesota State University- Mankato, where she focused on Art and English and polished her abilities as a violinist. Beckendorf said that her professor often created challenges and she enjoyed the assignments. Currently, she continues to challenge herself in her creations, often transferring grayscale photos into colorful portraits with oil paints.

“It’s a personal challenge of mine to alter what I see,” Beckendorf commented.

Beckendorf’s gallery includes intricately detailed oil portraits, with the addition of a few landscapes and still lifes. Many themes of her oil paintings represent the hardships that humankind experiences.

“I always have a painting of a person; the human condition,” she said.

Beckendorf further explained that painting humane challenges is a form of social activism and resonates with her psychologically

“It emotionally connects with me,” she said.

Many of her works depict the hardships of immigrants, citizens amidst conflicting countries, victims of natural disasters and several other realistic circumstances that affect humans globally. Beckendorf hopes the volumes of what is shown in her art will be spoken to the people who will come and see her work. She noted that several paintings are hung up in her home, which she often reflects on with hope for the future of the people she paints.

“You don’t have to be in the flood to feel the loss. I try to get people beyond their immediate surroundings and into the wider world.”

She added she has witnessed people becoming unified through music, so she hopes to unify people through her art.

“There are many things we share and things we don’t,” she said.

Beckendorf said that both creating pieces with powerful messages and sharing them with the community have been rewarding experiences.

Regarding her creative process, Beckendorf enjoys painting at night rather than the day. She said that even though working during the day is possible, the quietness of the night is more atmospherically pleasing.

“I usually paint when it’s dark out. I’m more focused at night. I listen to rock music while painting. I don’t get tired, but I get done at around one or two in the morning,” she stated.

The artist admitted her routine of painting has been on and off. In 2020, Beckendorf lost her full-time career as a writer. Not long after, she found a position at the Truman Tribune. Currently, Beckendorf is the newspaper’s staff editor. While also working in journalism, Beckendorf said that her focus is oil painting.

This past February, Beckendorf received local grants which allow her to commit to painting and scheduling two separate art shows. One of them will be an artist meet and greet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Red Rock Center on Nov. 10. The other will be at the Cottonwood County Historical Society in Windom. Beckendorf agreed that she enjoys sharing the weighted message of her works with others.

“It’s one thing to be in your studio, and it’s another to be in the community. [The artworks] are easy to share,” she said.

Beckendorf noted that she will be available for questions about oil painting techniques and verbal tutorials from guests at the meet and greet event on Nov. 10.

“There’s not a lot of exposure or opportunities like this in Minnesota. I had a lot of exposure to this,” she said.

Beckendorf encourages developing artists to ‘keep at it’ and seek strategies and opportunities to grow.