Featured Artist Nicolette Maguire Bonnstetter

Colorfully painted bowls by artist Nicolette Maguire Bonnstetter are covered with fun patterns and motifs. To see more of her work, visit her website.

 

 

The bowls I prefer are hardwood beech bowls, which work well for my painting surface. Painting at an angle is a bit of a challenge, and takes practice. The bowls are painted with acrylic and then coated with a product to create the intense shine. I heat this product and must work with it to keep it from pooling.

 

 

The process then is left to dry and cure. When dry, the bowl is sanded, and a second coat is applied and the steps repeated.

 

 

The backs of the bowls are varnished before I begin to paint. This is to keep paint from weeping into the grain. After the lengthy steps of sanding, heating and coating the inside of the bowl, the varnish is sanded off. Then the process of three different sanding techniques is used to create what I think is an amazing finish.

 

 

For my canvases, in most cases, I typically use a museum wrapped canvas with a linen surface. I paint with high grade museum quality acrylic.

 

 

I draw inspiration from writers, people, objects, old images, things that I remember, and things that are new.

 

 

Although I enjoy the process I use to produce my art, and I am enthusiastic about my subjects, most important to me is that I know art changes lives! My college students were prime examples. I taught art history and art methods, with inclusive studio courses, in the Midwest. I hope I helped my students understand that once you look at art, discuss it, and question what you see, your world changes!

 

 

My main objective in my art is to see how placing two colors beside each other will create a feeling or a mood that might lead to a point of discussion.

 

 

I think some of the recognizable objects may make you smile and may make you wonder what they mean.

 

 

Once that happens, the art has had an impact, but has it changed your life? You will have to tell me. I know art can change your life, if you can take the time to consider the possibilities.

 

Artist Nicolette Maguire Bonnstetter invites you to follow her on Facebook.

 

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