Lightening the Load

Halseydutton_Lightening the Load_ 30x30 Oil on Canvas 17Lightening the Load

30 x 30″ Oil on Canvas

Inspired by an event during the Lewis and Clark Expedition where a barrel of beads was lost overboard. Trade beads were one of many items brought along on the trip to use as currency and to broach interaction between cultures. What by today’s standards seem to be cheap trinkets were in fact quite expensive goods during early trade in North America. Where the technology required to create these beads was unavailable, the desire to obtain them was great.  Much like digital technology and scientific knowledge is today… 

 

 

 

 

Roughlock Falls, 2017

Roughlock Falls 2017 11x30 WC 17Roughlock Falls, 2017

30″ x 11″ Watercolor on Paper

I have begun painting on paper once again, enjoying the texture that a good watercolor paper can give to my landscape paintings.  I have been working on a series of images depicting water, and this painting is inspired by Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon, found in the majestic Black Hills of South Dakota. A walk alongside this beautiful area is always calming to me, and is a gift I award to myself frequently!  This painting is currently available at Prairie Edge Gallery in Rapid City.

Roughlock Restful

Roughlock Restful 4x4 WC on Clybd 17“Roughlock Restful”

4 x 4″  Watercolor on Claybord

 This artwork depicts an open meadow near Spearfish Canyon’s Roughlock Falls. There is a lovely walking path from the falls to Spearfish Canyon Lodge and Latchstring Inn: a lovely hike to take now that Spring as come to the Black Hills!  Check out more information about this amazing area I call home at www.blackhillsbadlands.com/trails/roughlock-falls-trail:  

This miniature painting is available at Prairie Edge Gallery in Rapid City.

River Relics

River Relics 24x36 Oil on Canvas 17River Relics

24 x 36″ Oil on Canvas

Not all my paintings are watercolor on claybord. This painting is an oil on canvas piece. I am focused upon the unknown: the hidden remnants of humankind’s mark upon the earth.  In the Lewis and Clark journals, there is an  entry that describes the near capsizing of one of their boats, which resulted in loss of a barrel of  beads.  This missing cargo represented the potential inability to trade and commune with Native American tribes whom they anticipated coming into contact with during their trek across the United States continent. Thus, they are lost to time and have become relics for future generations to find.

Spearfish Canyon’s Roughlock Falls

e Spearfish Canyon's Roughlock Falls 12x36 WC on Claybd 17Spearfish Canyon’s Roughlock Falls

12 x 36″

Watercolor on Claybord

The vertical fall of the naturally beautiful Roughlock Falls is emphasized in the vertical composition of this painting. Roughlock Falls is in Spearfish Canyon, in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and has provided myself, the artist, many hours of relaxation and rejuvenation. Check out my Facebook page: Artwork by Bonnie Halsey-Dutton

Join me for a Watercolor Workshop in Portugal, May 31 – June 7, 2017

I am teaching a watercolor workshop that will truly be a unique experience.  May 31 – June 7th, 2017  I will lead a week-long water media painting workshop at the Art in the Algarve School in Olhão, Portugal. Once you arrive in Olhão, is an all-inclusive week-long workshop in which the course, the lodging and full meals are included in the very amazing price. Please  look over the brochure file I have included here, check out the school website (Art in the Algarve School), and contact me @ bhdutton@gmail.com with any questions you might have! Please email me your address if you would like a hard copy of the brochure.

brochure-8.5inx11in-trifold-outside brochure-8.5inx11in-trifold-inside