Black Hills Impression

Black Hills Impression 4x4 WC on Clybd 17Black Hills Impression

6 x 6″

Watercolor on Claybord

Be a part of the world you live in… not apart from it!  Spring is in the air in the Black Hills of South Dakota (it has been a long wait this year!)  I fully intend to get out and enjoy it!!!  “Follow” my Facebook Page: Adult Art Education by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton if you’d like to join me in some “pop-up” group painting sessions in May and through the summer!!!

 

Devil’s Bathtub Hike

Devil’s Bathtub Hike

8 x 8″ Watercolor on Claybord

I did a series of paintings that were inspired by a hike up to Devil’s Bathtub.  For me, this is a magical spot in the Black Hills located within Spearfish Canyon.  The deeper into the hike you go,  steep canyon walls emerge on both sides, channeling the river, and leading to a truly wonderful series of small pools. This area of the world isn’t as well-kept a secret as it was when I was growing up in the Spearfish area, but it is still a very special hike.  Similar works from this series of paintings are available at Prairie Edge Gallery in Rapid City, SD.

Black Hills Whisper

e Black Hills Whisper 6x6 WC on Clybd 17Black Hills Whisper

6 x 6″

Watercolor on Claybord

Soon South Dakota will be enjoying spring once again, and along with that is the soft whisper of leaves on the trees.  I so look forward to that!  It has been a long winter this year, probably made more pronounced with the spring snowstorms that South Dakota is capable of!  Think budding leaves, flowers, and green grass!

Painting Holiday in the Algarve Region of Portugal

For the second year, I am leading a week-long workshop in Olhão, Portugal!

September 26 – October 3, 2018 : Spaces are filling up!

Limited to only 12 participants, this is an all-inclusive opportunity: private room with bath, all food, local wine, transport to and from Faro, and several day excursions during the week, all for £865 (approx. $1200.00). Check out the school: https://artinthealgarve.com or https://www.artinthealgarve.com/art-teachers/bonnie-halsey-dutton and message me with any questions you might have or for me to send you a brochure! See my Facebook post about art education opportunities and experiences: at Adult Art Education by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton

Spearfish Creek Flow

Spearfish Creek Flow

4 x 4″ Watercolor on Claybord

I’m ready to be outdoors in the Black Hills once again and am working on new paintings inspired by Spearfish Canyon.  This is a very small colorful gem, capturing the tranquility that is just a few miles from my home and studio.  Soon, I will be able to work outside en plain aire once again, and I can’t wait!!!

Spearfish Canyon Perspective

Spearfish Canyon Perspective

12 x 12″ Watercolor on Claybord

Being blessed to live in the Black Hills, I can’t help but be drawn to paint it!  Spearfish Creek runs alongside Spearfish Canyon Highway, and offers countless peeks at tranquil scenes.  Many times I have pulled over, got out of my car, and sat beside Spearfish Creek, and magically all of my cares seem much smaller.  Nature’s therapy resides right outside of the lovely town in which I live.

This and similar watercolor paintings by me are available at Prairie Edge Gallery in Rapid City, SD. 

 

Strung and Unstrung

Strung and Unstrung

8 x 8″ Watercolor and Ink on Claybord

Beads are a unique miniature art form that compel me to paint them. They are evidence of human value for adornment and provide archaeological evidence of mankind’s circumvention of the earth. Beads are created with holes to allow for them to be strung together with other like designs, or to be broken apart from their original hanks and restrung to create countless combinations of individualistic pattern.  I find this concept symbolic on many levels.

Cultures Collide Triptych

Cultures Collide Triptych

42 x 36″ Watercolor, Ink and Acrylic on Claybord

Wishing to work large and in an interesting format, I created this triptych.  Each panel is 12 x 36″ and each is framed in an artisan-made black walnut shadowbox frame.

In this work, I expanded upon earlier images in which I envision hidden treasure from various cultures and world continents washing up on a shoreline.  Many of my paintings examine global culture and interconnection. I ponder the timelessness of humankind’s circumvention of the Earth in search of “gems” from another shore.