About the Artist

Bethany Goforth is an award winning equine artist and lifelong horse owner and exhibitor, bringing her working knowledge and love of animals into her work. Working primarily in colored pencil, graphite and charcoal, Bethany creates custom equine and pet portraits and artwork depicting special moments with horses. She is a perennial exhibitor and award winner in the Michigan Education and Michigan Art Education Associations’ Annual Acquisitions Show, a member of the Colored Pencil Society of America and the CPSA Detroit Chapter #104 where her colored pencil work featuring horses has received multiple awards. Bethany is a juried Patron Member of Paard Verzameld Collective, an international equine art collective which is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Through a partnership with Paard Verzameld Collective and the Museum of the Horse Museum in Italy, Bethany has an original graphite hanging in the collection of "Love At First Sight - Visual Stories of the First Meeting with Horses" at the Horse Museum Foundation in Paliano, Italy. She also has the honor of creating circuit and year-end awards for the Michigan Quarter Horse Association, the Michigan Paint Horse Association, Michigan Pinto, and the California Illinois, and Indiana Paint Horse Associations. She has illustrated two published children’s books and has had her illustrations featured on several equine magazine covers. Bethany’s art hangs across the entire United States of America, featuring many beloved horses and pets through private commissioned portraiture and as award portraits and purchased pieces, which include landscapes, from her various collections.

Living in the rural Thumb of Michigan, Bethany sees daily inspiration from her surroundings and animals. With a BA in Graphic Design and a Minor in Art and Teaching Certification for Career Technical Education she has taught Graphics for over 17 years. She stays busy teaching and working in her studio when not at the barn, showing or spending time with family. Commissioned portraits are her specialty and a limited number are accepted annually.

EXHIBITIONS

2024

Thumb Area Artists Exhibition – Juried Art Exhibition, “Two Greys and A Bay” and “Makin’ Deliveries” , August 29 – September 27, Romeo, MI

The Cowgirl Gathering - Juried Art Exhibition hosted by the Cowgirl Artists of America, “Rolls and Royce of Mackinac Island”, sold – May 10-12, Fort Worth, TX

Michigan Education Association Art Acquisitions Show - Juried Art Exhibition, Juror's Choice and Purchase Award to "Mackinac Morning", "Reflection of Mackinac" accepted, April - June, Lansing, MI

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, Midwest Colored Pencil Show, - Third Place "Makin’ Deliveries”, March, Plymouth, MI

Gavi Home LLC, Interior Design and Gallery at the Wellington International – January through March, “Behind the Scenes of Wellington” Graphite Series, Wellington, FL

2023

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, Colored Pencil Plus, Juried Art Exhibition, "Abalone", October, Royal Oak, MI

Gavi Home LLC, Interior Design and Gallery at the Wellington International (formerly World Equestrian Festival) – January through March, “Behind the Scenes of Wellington” Graphite Series, Wellington, FL

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, The Best of Colored Pencil - April, Second Place, “Makin’ Deliveries”, Livonia, MI

The Lilac Gallery on Mackinac Island, Solo Exhibition – July 22

Equisarte Online Photography Summer Show, First Place, “Elijah’s Willow”, Second Place, “Hollyhocks A Plenty”

2022

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, Colored Pencil Plus Show – March, Honorable Mention, “Road to Serenity”, Novi, MI

Michigan Education Association Art Acquisitions Show, Spring Juried Art Exhibition, Lansing, MI

The Lilac Gallery on Mackinac Island, Solo Exhibition – July 16

“Love at First Sight” Juried Art Exhibition by Paard Verzameld – August, permanent collection of The Museum of the Horse, Patroni, Italy

Equisarte Online Photography Winter Show, People’s Choice Award, “Where’s Willow”

2021

Michigan Education Association Art Acquisitions Show, Spring Juried Art Exhibition, "Etheral Morning"

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, Michigan Colored Pencil Show – March, Merit Award,“Sun Bath”

The Lilac Gallery on Mackinac Island, Solo Exhibition – August 7

Colored Pencil Society of America Detroit Chapter #104, Michigan Colored Pencil Show – November, First Place, "Chubby and Felix"

2019

The Lilac Gallery on Mackinac Island, Solo Exhibition – September 21

2018

Michigan Education Association Art Acquisitions Show, Spring Juried Art Exhibition, Purchase Award Winner “Looking Ahead” and “Summer Memory"

2013

Michigan Education Association Art Acquisitions Show, Spring Juried Art Exhibition

NOTABLE COMMISSIONS

2024

Michigan Quarter Horse Association 2024 Easter Eggstravaganza Circuit Champion Awards

Michigan State Pinto Breeders and Owners 2023 Year End Awards

2023

Illinois Paint Horse Association 2022 Year End Awards

2022

California Paint Horse Association 2021 Year End Awards

Illinois Paint Horse Association 2021 Year End Awards

Michigan Pinto Breeders & Owners 2021 Overall Awards

Michigan Paint Horse Association 2021 Year End Awards

2021

Michigan Paint Horse Association 2021 Year End Awards

1986 to Present

Private Commissions, both equine and pet portraits, across the United States

PRESS RELEASES

2024

CPSA #104 Drawing Together, Fall 2024

2022

CPSA #104 Drawing Together, January/February 2022

Tuscola County Advertiser, January 19, 2022 CPSA #104 Drawing Together, January/February 2022

2020

CPSA #104 Drawing Together, May/June 2020