Featured Artist Bonnie Dhein

Artist Bonnie Dhein’s oil paintings are lush with color and texture. Enjoy this collection and view more by visiting her website.

 

 

I am an upper Midwesterner from a large family that had a lot of energy. All my siblings were interested in art in one form or another, so my upbringing has brought me to where I am now.

 

 

We all had to work at an early age. This working experience was the foundation that pushed me to pursue whatever I wanted in life. I loved art, and painting is my passion.

 

 

I began creating artwork at a very young age one day while I was trying to fry eggs on the hot summer concrete. When the eggs started to change, I took sticks and pulled the yolks over the whites to make interesting designs. Scouring the ground for anything that would add interest to my mixed media piece, I discovered leaves, feathers and tiny pieces of bark that I peeled off twigs trying to bend the shape to my will. The end result: an organic piece of art that produced instant gratification.

 

 

I married very young and did not attend college. Does that make me a self-taught artist? Once I started painting, I supported my passion by taking art classes and workshops. I bought books and researched the internet constantly for information and inspiration, only to find that the best paintings came from intuition.

 

 

Having an idea in mind and looking at a blank canvas is my meditation. Willing to fail, I am open to letting my project take on its own life.

 

 

I paint a realistic subject and then go for the fun part—experimenting with color, texture and value. I hope to create an abstract quality or loose imprint with the finished piece.

 

 

I do not worry about whether or not the painting looks how I first imagined, because at some point for an artist the creativity just commands the visual plane. For me, this is where the excitement builds and I just go with it.

 

 

I strive to express myself through painting. I fell in love with the complete control of how colors could be manipulated on canvas.

 

 

I continue to grow as an artist and strive for technical ability, but that is of far less importance to me than the conveyance of my experience and feelings. It is paramount for an artist to feel confident standing on their own instinctual creativity and passion without the access of formal training.

 

 

We all have creative cells that may lie dormant and just need our permission to come alive.

 

Artist Bonnie Dhein invites you to follow her on Instagram and Facebook.

 

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Subscribe to our twice-monthly Updates, and get a free e-book on Where to Sell Art Online right now!