“Art has always been a connection for me to be able to speak to the outside world,” said Faith Betts, the Eagle Grove Eagle newspaper’s new graphic designer.
Betts joined your hometown newspaper family on November 13, 2020, working part-time while still finishing her degree at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake. After graduating December 8, 2020, she started working full-time at the Eagle on Dec. 11. She took over the full layout and advertising design of the newspaper on December 14, and we are happy to have her with us.
Betts is a 2017 graduate of Humboldt High School. From there, she headed right to Buena Vista University, intending to study art education.
“I hadn’t even started my first day of class before I realized there was more to the art world than teaching, so I changed (my major) to art management,” said Betts.
She was excited about studying the curating and business side of art. She later added graphic design as a second major after an assignment in a class to design a logo in Photoshop for a project they were working on.
“I fell in love with (design). It became an outlet,” she said.
During her time at Buena Vista, Betts enjoyed running the school’s art gallery.
“I loved the gallery and being surrounded by other people’s works, as well as helping promote their work,” said Betts.
She also served as the vice president of design for the largest student organization on the Buena Vista campus, “SAB,” otherwise known as the Student Activity Board. During her post, she had the opportunity to design everything from posters and T-shirts to stickers and playing cards. She was especially excited about the playing cards as they were based off of the Marvel women.
In her new role as graphic designer at the Eagle Grove Eagle, Betts said she really enjoys seeing her efforts come to life every week when the newspapers hit the stands.
“My work is permanently in Eagle Grove’s history,” she said. “That is so gratifying for me.”
Betts said she also likes the atmosphere at the Eagle Grove Eagle.
“We’re all like family. I know I can ask anyone a question at any time…that we bounce ideas off each other…everybody works to make everyone’s job easier,” she said.
Betts’ goal as part of the Eagle team is to make the newspaper “eye catching.”
“I don’t want newspapers to fade out,” she said.
As you page through your hometown newspaper every week, look for fun little ways she throws in a sense of humor. She likes to make people laugh.
“A big thing for me was to always be a professional in the art world…now I am,” she said excitedly.
Toni Venteicher, President of Mid-America Publishing & Printing said, “We are so proud to have found such a great designer as Faith Betts. She is so very passionate, willing to work with Kim and all of her co-workers and listen to the public as to what they would like to see. She comes to us with a wealth of brand new techniques and a wonderful attitude. Please join me welcoming Faith. What a great opportunity you have in Eagle Grove! Watch for all the great things she will be doing! Thank you Faith for joining our team.”
In her free time, Betts stays busy with her husband, John Betts IV (who is an EGHS alumnus), and son Theo who is three. They live in Livermore where she is proud to also be a “foster cat mom.” It’s no surprise that with her passion for art, Betts also has her own Youtube channel “Faith marie Bolen” where she posts drawing videos, makeup tutorials, and random thoughts. Her most popular post, “How I did my art journal,” received 1,400 views.
