Black Hills of South Dakota

Bonnie Halsey-Dutton  October, 2023

Life took me in unanticipated directions, as life does us all!  I am now in business with my son Drew Dutton, at Artifacts Antiques and Art in downtown Spearfish, South Dakota.  (740 N. Main Street) We operate an antique shop along with a gallery/studio where I showcase my artwork. 

I have found great pleasure in painting colorful images of the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, where I live.  I have original watercolor paintings for sale, which I post on my website and showcase in my gallery.  As some of the places that I paint are popular Black Hills destination locations, I also offer some of these images as open edition prints, keeping the price point at an affordable $30.00.  These are my five most recent prints…check them out!!!  https://www.bonniehalseydutton.com

Artist News

I have been busily working on my art during this time of pandemic slow-down and isolation.  I painted a large series of 5×7 sketches that I titled “Isolation Sketches” and I sold them online through my Facebook page and from this website.  It was a very intriguing turn of events to realize the impact of connecting with patrons through social and online methods, and I was pleased and somewhat surprised to sell my artwork all over the United States!  These paintings led to a limited series of prints of my most popular Isolation Sketch images, which are still available through my downtown Spearfish gallery location at Artifacts Antiques and Art.

I have begun work on similar Black Hills region watercolor sketches in an 8×10 size, that will be ready for framing in an 11 x 14″ standard frame.  I will be offering these for sale soon, and as before, I will post one daily and sell them through this website.  The first painting will be posted on Monday, July 26th at 8:00 am! 

It is mid-July, and the Spearfish area is experiencing a large number of tourists this year, and is soon to welcome motorcyclists for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.  During July I will be “gearing up” to again offer small group in-person adult art workshops, so please “stay tuned” for the variety of course offerings that will close out the summer and welcome in the fall season.  I look forward to once again sharing creative expression through art workshops.  Please sign-up for my monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date on the limited enrollment course offerings. (Don’t forget to add bhdutton@gmail.com to your email contact list so the newsletter doesn’t end up in your spam folder!)

Fall Colors Art Studio Tour

I am one of 10 featured artists opening their studios for a studio tour!

FALL COLORS ART STUDIO TOUR
Presented by the Fall Colors Art Studio Tour Committee
​
Saturday, September 21 | 10am – 6pm
Sunday, September 22 | 10am – 4pm

Fall Colors Art Studio Tour is a free self-guided tour that will enhance your awareness of talented local artists while enriching the cultural life in the Black Hills. This juried art event, offers a unique opportunity for artists to gain further recognition, open their studio doors to the public, and to show and sell their work.

Fall Colors Art Studio Tour fosters a greater understanding of the artistic process by providing the public with a unique opportunity to enter the world of the visual artist and experience how, why and where art is created. For a map of the tour please visit: The Dahl Fall Colors Art Studio Tour

Bonnie Halsey-Dutton Art Studio: 740 N. Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783    Phone: 605-641-8758  email: bhdutton@gmail.com

 

3 Different Journaling Workshops in September

I will be leading 3 different Sunday journaling workshops in September: enroll in one, two, or all three…whatever works with your individual schedule!

Journaling has many broad definitions, and each session will prompt investigation into each participant’s choice of methods and formats. Consider joining this workshop to expand your creativity by expanding your view of self-expression. See link for further description of the workshops and contact information. See Link for PDF download: Journaling Workshop Sept 2019

Journaling Workshop Description

 

Global Trade Lost and Found

Artists’ books ignite my creativity, and in this case allow me to expand upon themes that I explore through my paintings in a 3-dimensional manner. For this artists’ book I created six 6×6″ watercolor paintings on Ampersand Claybord. One of the paintings shows a boat above the surface of a body of water in which trade beads lie submerged. The other five paintings form an accordion-styled rendering that depicts the beads cascading downward into the water.  The accordion fold book nestles in the wooden “treasure box” that has an infinity symbol as a knob.  These are all images that I explore through numerous paintings that focus upon global trade past and present.

Liquorish

My son, Drew Dutton, aka Liquorish has written lyrics for many years. He fills countless composition books with poetic thoughts that he sets to original hip-hop beats. In homage to his signature style of working, I created a small folded book by utilizing a composition book format and lined paper.  My intricately folded final book illustrates the artist in a private recording that is enhanced by use of his handwritten lyrics. The pictures with this blog only serve to peak the reader’s interest as to how both materials and content can be incorporated into an artist’s book.

Artists’ Books: Articulate by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton

During July of 2019 I will lead a 3-week long workshop exploring artists’ books from my downtown Spearfish SD studio. Artists’ Books are books made by artists and these structures can well challenge what is classified as a book in the traditional manner.  I took a bookmaking class while enrolled in my PhD coursework at the University of Arizona, and insight I gained ignited a passion in me for this exciting artform! In my book entitled “Articulate”, I created a book and a case for the book from fragile tissue paper.  The tissue paper contains squares of shredded recycled paper that contain lettering.  Through my artpiece, I challenge viewers to contemplate that a book might have a different message each time it is read. The text within my book is created from magnetic words from a set of novelty refrigerator magnets, and thus the message contained in this book can be potentially scrambled and reconfigured.

Bookmaking: Creating Artists’ Books

While pursuing a PhD in Art History and Education, Dr. Bonnie Halsey-Dutton discovered the artform of artist’s books. Because books are so engaging she is offering a course inviting participants to explore the limitless question, “What can constitute a book?” During the 3-week course, participants will be exposed to a wide variety of book forms and will create three or more of their own unique book designs with the instructor’s tutelage. The workshops are limited to 6 students per session, and are held in the artist’s newly opened downtown studio at 740 N. Main, Spearfish, South Dakota.

Choice of enrollment in 2 workshop times: each is 3 hours long (Adjustments will be made for illness if required)

Tuesday Mornings:   July 16, 23, & 30 (8:30 am – 11:30 am)

Tuesday Evenings:   July 16, 23, & 30 (6:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

Cost per participant: $180.00 for (3) 3-hour sessions

Supplies: Participants are invited to bring any bookmaking materials, supplies, and ideas that they have on hand that they wish to work with.  The required items are very basic, and instructor will provide additional supplies for experimentation. As the course progresses and individual ideas develop, participants will bring materials to work on their books during the course.

  • Drawing paper or journal for note-taking and design purposes (A variety of drawing pads and journals are available for sale at the artist’s studio) Additional paper will be required for books, and this is determined by each individual’s design ideas
  • Drawing materials such as pencils, colored pencils, markers, ink pens, drawing ink, watercolor…
  • #2 pencil and eraser (kneaded rubber eraser or pink eraser are helpful)
  • Ruler 12 – 18” long
  • Patterned paper of own choosing to make the cover for the book during the first session (such as wrapping paper, map, drawing, poster, print… whatever catches your eye)

Bonnie specializes in tutoring adults of all experience levels. Visit her website: www.bonniehalseydutton.com

To check availability and reserve a space contact:

Artifacts Antiques & Art: 740 N. Main Street, Spearfish, SD 57783  (605) 641-8758

or email artifactsantiques@gmail.com

To see future offerings: “Like” my Facebook Page: Adult Art Education by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton

https://www.facebook.com/AdultArtEducation/

Also, you can sign up for a newsletter for future events at: www.bonniehalseydutton.com

 

 

 

Wyoming Rock Cliff

This is a colorful painting inspired by a visit to historic Ranch A, outside of Beulah, Wyoming. Ranch A is a short distance from my home in Spearfish, SD.  This gem of a historic piece of history is surrounded by stacked layers of rock, and is truly worth a visit. My rendition is a horizontal oil painting measuring 36″ wide by 12″ tall, and can be seen in my Spearfish studio located at 740 N. Main Street, inside of Artifacts Antiques and Art.