Hello Art Patrons,
I’ve just returned from exhibiting my Jeffrey Pinecone painting at the U.S Botanic Garden in Washington DC. I feel lucky to be chosen as a featured artist for the Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service—thrilled others appreciate Pinus, jeffreyi as well. The artists’ program was fun except for the 98 degree steamy air outside. Many came inside for the air-conditioning saying our exhibit, Flora of the National Parks, was like a breath of fresh air. I met engaging stimulating people—locals and those from all over the world. We speak the same language, as botanicals have universal appeal. The eight month exhibit is popular, so it’s been extended through the holidays. The gallery is currently closed while they install the Christmas tree, reopening by Thanksgiving. No, the Christmas tree irony is not lost on my Pinus jeffreyi cone. Congressional holiday parties are held there, which is pretty cool.
 
Flora of the National Parks Feb 18—through 2016
U.S. Botanic Garden, Conservatory West Gallery
100 Maryland Ave, Washington DC
www.usbg.gov/floraofthenationalparks
Next week is the debut of the recently completed 127 painting Alcatraz Florilegium at Marin Art and Garden Center. I have two paintings in the collection—nasturtium and black walnut. Did you know that black walnut can be toxic? Me neither. Nothing grows under it, pasturing animals nearby is ill advised and black walnut is evidently used in minute medicinal doses to kill parasites. Here I am under a tree pulling down leaves, pollen coating my face, bisecting leaves, peeling shells. Good thing I didn’t eat one. When the doctor saw my swollen face she gasped, “Do you carry an epi pen?” “A what?” “At least you won’t have any parasites.”
I hope you see the black walnut painting because it truly was a labor of love. A reception honoring the selected artists is this Sunday 10/23 from 3-5 pm. I’ll be there.
The Alcatraz Florilegium: Botanical Art from Life on the Rock
Oct 23—Nov 13 2016
Fri 12-5, Sat 10-4, Sun 12-4pm or appt.
Opening reception Sun 10/23, 3-5 pm
Marin Art and Garden Center
30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross CA 94957
www.magc.org/events/the-alcatraz-florilegium-botanical-art-from-life-on-the-rock/
Catherine Watters’ botanical holiday party will again be a feast for the eyes and tastebuds. Our class Annual Botanical Art Exhibition is Sunday Dec 4, 4-7pm. Come see 19 artists’ current work. Shop for prints, cards and botanical gifts. Artists bring hors d’oeuvres, sweets and wine for our patrons, friends and family—to thank you for your enthusiastic support. I’d like to thank you in person so I hope you’ll stop by.
2016 Botanical Art Exhibition
Dec 4, 2016, 4-7 pm
Woodhall
501 Orindawoods Dr.
Orinda, CA
I hope you will drop by my Open Studio on Thursday Dec 8, 10-12 pm for tea and Grandma’s fudge or 4-6 pm for a drink and some delicious black walnuts. Kidding—are you paying attention?
Check my website www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com to see my latest work. I am about to upload the black walnut, dichondra, and moon shell paintings. That’s it for this quarter. I have some good shows in 2017 but I’ll leave you hanging, and coming back I hope.
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
www.BonnieBonner.blogspot.com
Hello Art Patrons,
In a three sentence brief, I currently have art hanging in two national exhibits, both coasts, same painting. Of course one is a print. You can visit the U.S. Botanic Garden’s print in Washington D.C. on the National Mall, or if you are a left coaster, you can see the original painting in Woodside CA. at Filoli Gardens. Read on for the longer version.
This painting is botanically titled, Pinus jeffreyi, but it’s just a big pinecone found at Tahoe. My college friend, a plant biologist, identified it as Jeffrey Pine versus the similar Ponderosa. The needles are three per bunch, like a Ponderosa. But when you run your hand down the cone, the end spikes don’t stick you because the spines are turned inward, unlike a Ponderosa. And, I love this, Jeffrey Pine bark smells of vanilla.
Here are the particulars:
Filoli Gardens 18th Annual Botanical Art Exhibit
April 5 – June 12, 2016 except Mondays
86 Canada Rd., Woodside CA
www.filoli.org click events/exhibits for hours
This is a juried international show and has the reputation of being one of the top three juried botanical art exhibits in the U.S. and all of the paintings are original. The gardens are glorious this time of year, as well. I saw hundreds of peach tulips floating in clouds of sky blue forget-me-nots.
The second exhibit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Flora of the National Parks is the Centennial Celebration of the National Park Service at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington DC, next to the U.S. Capitol. The Washington Post published the following March 24 article about the exhibit. http://wapo.st/211YM91. Also the American Society of Botanical Artists posted a Facebook blurb about the exhibit and profiled me on March 28. There were 65 paintings and photographs chosen by NPS, and I am super excited to be included. However, I’ll have to wait until Sept 10, 2016 to see it during my artists’ talk/demonstration from 1-2 pm. Can you make it?
Flora of the National Parks
February 18 – Oct 2, 2016 (rumored to extend through the New Year)
U.S. Botanic Garden, Conservatory West Gallery
100 Maryland Ave., Washington D.C.
www.USBG.gov/FloraoftheNationalParks
As for my Bug Hotels there are two fun local events. Bug Hotels are one-of-a-kind hanging garden art made of recycled seed pods and plant matter. They serve as a place of rest, feeding, propagation and safety for the workhorses of our ecosystem–our pollinators. See all of my Bug Hotels in the Gallery on my website www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
On May 20 PAINTS, supporting art in Piedmont Schools, will hold their annual Birdhouse Gala Auction. One of my Bug Hotels will be up for auction. Good cause for kids. www.PIEDMONTPAINTS.org
May 22, 10-2 pm, is the Green Garden Ramble showcasing 6 Piedmont gardens created with sustainability in mind. I’m proud Piedmont Connect has invited me to show my eco-friendly Bug Hotels at one of the gardens on tour. The Garden Ramble is free but an online sign-ups is required. www.piedmontconnect.org
Lest you think I’m juried into most exhibits, let me set the record straight. There is a wonderful upcoming show for which I was NOT chosen. It too is in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the NPS at the David Brower Center in Berkeley CA. beginning May 20. And I will NOT be the Artist-in-Residence at Glacier National Park in Montana for the entire month of October, in a small cabin, in the snowy woods . . . alone. I did make it as far as the third round of judging but now I’m kind of relieved.
Bonnie Bonner
www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
www.BonnieBonner.blogspot.com
“Congratulations! An art submission you entered has been selected to be included in the Flora of the National Parks exhibit at the United States Botanic Garden February 18 – October 2, 2016.” Just home I see this email. Too late to call anyone, I am leaping around the kitchen whooping “My art is going to be in the Smithsonian. Holy Moley,” well–I didn’t really use that word.
Another email arrives a few days later . . . ” I’d like to introduce you to Ranger Michael. Michael handles the social media for the Park Service on Alcatraz. I think it would be a wonderful story to tell about your pinecone painting being selected for the 100 year anniversary exhibit, and with your paintings in the Alcatraz Florilegium.”
This pinecone has a life of its own. And to think I’d almost added a bunch of pine needles to the painting. Lucky I was talked out of that one.
But first, The Alcatraz Florilegium Exhibit will tour at U.C. Berkeley for only two weeks this January. Come see my nasturtium painting, along with 78 other artists’ work, in the beyond beautiful 100 year-old Julia Morgan building on campus at the UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens. Free with Garden admission, the exhibit runs for only two weeks:
Saturday Jan 16–Friday Jan 29, 2016 10 to 4 pm. daily except closed Monday Jan 18–MLK Day. www.botanicalgarden.berekley.edu. Click Alcatraz Florilegium.
There is information about lectures on the history of the Florilegium and the Alcatraz Garden Restoration Project. At the bottom of the page click Plants Illustrated to see my nasturtiums adorning last year’s exhibit flyer. You can also see my nasturtiums on the cover of the National Park Service Alcatraz Gardens Brochure. The Florilegium paintings are juried and the work is exquisite–a must-see for lovers of fine botanical artwork. For a preview, here’s the link to the Alcatraz Florilegium: www.ncalsba.org/wordpress/alcatraz
My shift to gallery sit at the Gardens is Jan 24 from 1-4. Love to see you.
Or meet me in D.C. and walk the U.S. National Mall from the Washington Monument (it was his idea to someday form the National Parks) toward the U.S. Capitol stopping at the Conservatory West Gallery to view the exhibit honoring the Centennial of the creation of the National Parks Service. I’ll let you know if there is an artists’ reception. Yessssssssss.
It is certain that none of this would occur without the help and encouragement of my group, The Northern CA. Society of Botanical Artists and The (I call it) Catherine Watters School. Without them I would be painting in a vacuum, if at all. So I hope you’ll join a group in the New Year. Connecting with others nurtures and improves you. It opens up opportunities. Makes you happy too.
Happy New Year my friends,
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
Hello art patrons,
I have two new botanical exhibits coming up in early December that I hope you can fit into your Holiday schedules.
Botanical Art Exhibit
Dec. 6 Sunday, 4-7 PM
Woodhall, 501 Orindawoods Dr and Kite Hill Rd.
Orinda CA
This is an exhibit from the Catherine Watter’s School of Botanical Art. I will exhibit my three most recent pieces and 18 other artists will show theirs. We’ll have homemade hors d’oeuvres, wine and a Holiday Boutique of botanical prints, cards, aprons, giftwrap etc. Our ever popular tote bags are back and better than ever (we hope the shipment arrives on time-otherwise we’ll take orders). True story: These totes are so desirable that two of my friends have had theirs stolen from their grocery carts! Please come next Sunday Dec 6 and feast your eyes while sharing some Holiday cheer.
Open House at Bonnie’s
Dec 11 Friday, 10AM-noon and/or 4-6PM
Piedmont CA 94611
Stop by my home art studio in the morning, 10 am to noon, for coffee and tea or in the evening from 4-6 PM for a libation. Bring friends and spouses. I will have all of my art on display. For holiday gifts I will be selling prints, aprons, cards, sea glass and succulent wreaths. I have several new Bug Hotels as well. Come twice–my Christmas cookies are waiting to see you.
In the last two weeks of January the U.C. Berkeley Botanical Gardens will display the nearly completed Alcatraz Garden Florilegium in the historic Julia Morgan Hall. For those of you who missed the exhibit on Alcatraz Island, this will be a great chance to see the selected 65 botanical paintings from the touring exhibit. My Nasturtium painting graces the cover of the National Park Service brochure about the Alcatraz Island Gardens. I’ll let you know when I’ll be gallery sitting in my next newsletter but, nevertheless, save a date in the latter half of January to come see this extraordinary exhibit in a gorgeous Julia Morgan venue.
Check out my new website www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com and/or unsubscribe from this newsletter at will. Enjoy your holidays and hope for more snow–the gardens and skiers (me!) deserve a break.
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com
Hello art patrons,
I hope you can come to my Birthday Party next Friday, June 5. Once again I will exhibit Botanical Art, succulent wreaths, gourd art, botanical aprons, note cards, Bug Hotels. We will serve you water, wine, hors d’oeuvres and Birthday cake. Bring friends not Birthday gifts. My birthday is really Saturday but because I like cake we’ll celebrate Friday night June 5 from 7– 9:30 PM at the Artists’ Reception at Piedmont Center for the Arts, 801 Magnolia Ave, in Piedmont across from the High School. It is part of Pro Arts Open Studios. Three other artists, Lorna Strotz, Larraine Seiden and Raul Jorcino will also exhibit with me Saturday and Sunday June 6-7 from 11- 6 PM.
The exhibit will continue on the next weekend June 13-14 from 11- 6 PM, but two new artists will join me. I am very excited to exhibit with two Piedmont kindergarten girlfriends, Molly Milligan, the real-deal multi-talented artist, and Cindy Fritschi Fleming exhibiting her late sister, Jill Reese’s, gorgeous photography. Even our grandparents knew one another. One note for my Bug Hotel followers: I will display all my new Bug Hotel creations during the second weekend, due to lack of wall space during the first weekend. Come twice. www.piedmontcenterforthearts.org I was gob smacked last month with notice from the National Park Service and S.F. Garden Conservancy that, unbeknownst to me, my Nasturtium painting had been chosen for the cover of a brochure about The Gardens of Alcatraz Island. My painting is one of 65 in the Alcatraz Florilegium. You can pick up a brochure at the S.F. Alcatraz ferry terminal on Pier 33 and download the PDF attachment. Quite an honor for me.
My new web site is almost complete. Go to www.BonniesBotanicalArt.com to see the progress. A new feature in the photo gallery, coming soon, will be a page for my one-of-a-kind Bug Hotels. These garden art hanging shelters vary artistically but all provide a place for pollinators to rest, feed, hide from enemies and propagate–a house of ill repute for insects. Many of you have asked to see photos of the sold pieces, over 20 in all, plus view those currently on sale. I’ll bring a few for the space limited first weekend, and try to keep them there for you to see with the others on June 13-14. Please let me know if you’d like to unsubscribe. See you June 5. Remember please bring your friends not birthday gifts.
Hello art patrons,
Here’s a very tardy newsletter for the season. My two winter exhibits are already up and running but you’ll still have enough time to see them. The biggest news is that the Northern California Society of Botanical Artists have a beautiful and exciting show hanging at the UC Botanical Gardens. The excitement is all about the venue and the concurrent show. A 1911 Julia Morgan Building has been relocated this month from the Cal campus to the Gardens, and the first exhibit is an international botanical exhibit touring the country, “Following in the Bartrams’ Footsteps”. It is running alongside our show, “Plants Illustrated.” We have been relegated to the anteroom this year only, and our art has to be under 50 linear inches to make room for both shows, but it’s worth a visit. It is open daily 10 – 4 PM, through Feb 15, 200 Centennial Dr. Berkeley. There’s a $10 garden admission www.botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu. The Garden is closed Tuesday Feb 3 and admission is free Wednesday Feb. 4. You can read an article about this by Sam Whiting in the Chronicle today, Monday Jan.26, on the cover of the Datebook section, or search it on www.sfgate.com.
The second exhibit is “Selected Prints from the Alcatraz Florilegium” running through March 23 at the Stinson Beach Library, 3521 Shoreline Hwy. in Stinson Beach. If you did not make it to Alcatraz Island to see the 45 piece exhibit last year, this is a good chance to take a drive to Stinson and see 14 pieces of botanical art. There is an Artists’ Reception next Saturday Jan 31, but I cannot be there. You can RSVP for the reception to Klivingston@marincounty.org. I understand my nasturtium painting is hung front and center. I’ll plan a drive up there sometime in late Feb. or March so let me know if you want to come along. The library has odd hours so please take note: Mon 10-1 and 2-6, Tues. 1-5 and 6-9, Wed. and Thurs. closed, Fri. 10-1 and 2-6, Sat.10-1 and 2-5, Sunday closed. You could call to make sure (415) 868-0252.
Why not take a garden or beach hike and enjoy some botanicals in the wild and on exhibit!
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
Hello art patrons,
I’ve got the first of three Holiday Shopping and Art Boutiques coming right up this Thursday. It is at Orinda Country Club, 315 Camino Sobrante, Orinda CA on Nov. 13, from 4:00 – 7:30 pm. This is the boutique with free wine tasting and the only night Orinda Country Club is open to the public for drinks and/or dinner. I will be showing some new pieces of art since June, namely Rainbow Eucalyptus, Hibiscus from Kona, a ‘Knucklehead’ Pumpkin and a new experiment with pen and ink that I learned at the American Society of Botanical Art conference in Denver last month. You should have seen the fall colors in Colorado! Quite inspiring. I will also bring several one-of-a-kind Bug Hotels, framed sea-glass hearts, succulent wreaths, gift cards, botanical wrapping paper, and butcher aprons adorned with my Pumpkin Patch image on the bib. I can have your name or your gift recipient’s name embroidered on it if you want.
Next is the Claremont Country Club Holiday Boutique, 5295 Broadway Terrace, Oakland CA on Dec. 10, from 10 – 2 pm. Both the above events will have a group of vendors selling everything from art to: cookies, clothing, jewelry, handbags, candy, bath accessories and children’s items. In all, a smart early shopping extravaganza for the holidays.
Finally, my botanical art class has it’s annual Open House at Woodhall, 501 Orindawoods Dr, Orinda CA on December 7, from 4 – 7 pm. There you will find recent botanical art from nearly two dozen talented artists, plus their note cards, gift cards and other botanical surprises. You can also enjoy dozens of homemade hors d’oeuvres and wine hosted by the class members. Our gift to you. PLEASE COME.
I will send out a brief reminder in early December. Let me know if you want to be taken off my emailing list. I certainly understand.
Bonnie Bonner
a.k.a. Joanne Palamountain
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