Bonnie Rodgers

Color is my favorite element in any painting. I love both the brilliant and subtle in terms of hue and depth. Because I think color is the emotional element in a painting, I use it to stimulate a response. I work often in series with fauna and flora, landscape, still life, figurative, and often en Plein Air. I use a glazing technique with a variety of mediums and start my work with a drawing but often paintings take on a life of their own in route of completion. “Ideas flicker like migrating birds, some must be fully explored and others must escape into their own journey”.

Born to a non-artistic I am privileged to have earned several awards for my art. I won finalist status on “Country Living”, a collage The Artist’s Magazine, 2008, Art-Exchange, New York Art Expo, June 2007; Art-Exchange, Las Vegas Expo, September 2006;, Nebraska Mother’s Association, 2002, first place “Tea and Roses”, Gwen McKenzie Fellowship Award, 2006; Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, Award Of Excellence, “Country Living” 2005; Silver Palette, February 2005, “Fury in the Eyes” second place; Silver Palette, February 2005, “Purple Majesty” Honorable mention; Genie Schaffer Scholarship, OAI, February 2005; Certificate of Appreciation, OAI, Publicity Chairperson 2004;Certificate of Appreciate for Art Show Chairperson 2004; Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, Honorable Mention, “Purple Majesty” 2004Omaha Artists Inc; JCC Show, Spring Show, Honorable Mention, watercolor, “Variegated Beauty” 2004; Nebraska State Sarpy County Fair, First Place, mixed media, “Spring Into Color” 2003; Association of Nebraska Art Clubs, Award of Excellence, “Country Living” 2003; American Mother’s Incorporated, second place for “Tea and Roses”, watercolor in 2002; Nebraska Mothers Association, First Place, Watercolor, “Tea and Roses” 200; Silver Palette, First Place, 2001; Opal Parmentor Fellowship Award, February 2001; Grumbacher Award 2000; Hillmer Art Gallery, Fourth Place, ”Marquette Michigan Lighthouse” October 2000 ; Golden Key National Honor Society, 1996 to present; Emma Butz Tidball Scholarship, 1998; Kay Crawford Scholarship, 1997-1998; SAP Scholarship, 1996; UNO, Margaret Naylor Scholarship, 1995-1996; and Semi-finalist national poetry contest, 1996 poetry.

Born in Wisconsin, married to Sam for 42 years, having three children and seven grandchildren gave me the reason to receive my Bachelors of Fine Art, Masters of Fine Art, and studied with many international artists like Terry Isaac, Larry Blovits, Robert Hanna, Betty Braig, Sigrid Wonsil, Richard Schilling, Charles Rogers, George ”Papa” Tutt , Lian Quan Zhen, Carrie Burns Brown, Carol Orr, Frank Franchese, Margaret Hoyback, Dick Phillips, Patsy Smith, Sheila Parson, Karen Vernon, and George Kountoupis. Being active in the Arts, in Nebraska for 28 years and now in Florida, as a member of many art associations keeps me centered.