In this episode of The Bandwidth Project, I sit down with Raina Verhey [@rainaverheyart], a painter whose work captures the essence of the high desert. We dive into the journey that led her to art, the tension between creativity and business, and how landscapes act as a reflection of the self.

Raina shares how overcoming illness shaped her path, why creative obsession is necessary, and what it means to make art for a living—not just as a passion, but as a way of life.

🔹 Topics Discussed:

• The struggle of balancing creativity with making a living
• The emotional and spiritual connection between nature and art
• The role of social media in building an artist’s career

Also, make sure to check out Raina's Open Studio on March 21st, 4pm-9pm. Details can be found here: https://rainaverhey.com/

More about Raina:

Raina Verhey is a Central Oregon local oil painter, focused on high desert landscape and stone. Her work, impressionistic by nature, captures ancient + sacred places, and seeks to hold space for spirit and truth in a modern age. Growing up in Georgia, Verhey was first exposed to the Western landscapes that fill her artwork when moving to the West Coast as a teenager. Since then, she has traversed many miles of America’s highways with a paintbrush and a camera in tow. All paintings are sourced from plein air outings and long treks into the back country of Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah and New Mexico.

Verhey works from a studio in Bend, Oregon, holding space always for the land and the sky and spirit that holds us. View her work at RainaVerhey.com, or find her on social media at @rainaverheyart.

Welcome to the very first episode of The Bandwidth Project! Kicking things off, I’m sitting down with my friend and multi-creative artist, Eli Be, to talk about the raw, unfiltered side of making art—where it comes from, what it means, and why we keep showing up for it.

Eli shares how painting became an unexpected way to process life, emotions, and past experiences, starting with a single canvas in a garage during COVID and turning into something way bigger. We get into the struggle of staying authentic in a world that loves trends, the importance of community over competition, and what it actually means to trust your creative instincts.

About Eli:

Eli Be is a multidisciplinary artist and creative director whose work explores self-expression, movement, and transformation. Through art, storytelling, and intuitive guidance, they help others uncover deeper layers of creativity and authenticity. Their work is deeply connected to themes of nature, intuition, and self-discovery, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of art and personal growth.

Follow Eli Be → @eli_be123

Contact: Hello@purelightcreatives.com

Follow The Bandwidth Project → @TheBandwidthProject