"Out of the Blue" - painter Bonnie Bardos

Sometimes it is difficult for me to capture in words what I see in a painting. The work of Bonnie Bardos has impressed me, but I've found it difficult to pinpoint the reason. Perhaps it is the light. In one of her statements she mentions "I see nature as spiritual and symbolic – and seek to speak to the unknown, to convey the unseen." If this is so, then perhaps that is why her piece "House of the Spirit" draws me to speculate on what is hiding behind its door creating the light that pervades the canvas. Perhaps it is simply the fact that they offer a puzzle to solve with words peeking out half seen and odd crows meandering about. Perhaps it is her lush use of color that feels warm and inviting in the otherwise plain space of Gallery I at Tryon Fine Arts Center .
I was lucky enough to meet Bonnie through email and she agreed to meet me in person at the Gallery Coffeehouse to discuss her current exhibit.

Where did you get the title Out of the Blue?
A 200 year-old oak tree fell on my house last July "out of the blue." That opened up a lot of synergy and events really started happening! Within a few days of the tree incident, Jeanne Parker called me "out of the blue" about doing a show at TFAC. I didn't hesitate, and said "YES!" even though my entire back deck was destroyed, and my house open to the elements. I set up the easel in the kitchen and started painting despite the chaos with construction workers going full blast. Later, when Jeanne asked me what we should call the show, "Out of the Blue" seemed appropriate.

Where do the crows come from?
They show a sense of humor with a twist of comic relief. But they are also symbolic. It's not just a bird and not just a branch.

How long does it take for you to create a painting?
I just go with the moment and the flow. That's why I have so many different things. On days I'm off from my job at the Upstairs Artspace, I'll paint all day from morning until evening, usually outdoors on the back deck -- it's now rebuilt.

You mentioned that your back deck was special to you for painting. How did it take you to find the place?
For many years I wanted a real studio. After 9/11 I made a lot of changes and took over the first floor of my house and back deck for painting. I quit waiting, and I just went ahead and did. I call my house the "art house" because it's a studio virtually full of books, art, easels, canvases, and I'm quite comfortable with that!

You mention in your statement you use "anything that makes color, but primarily water based paints." Why?
I have some oil and charcoal, but I mainly stick with acrylic due to ease of clean-up and environmental reasons. I'm part of Golden Paint's Artist Program and get a lot of my supplies through that.

I noticed you had a painting lit from within? Is that something you've done before?
That's a prototype piece; I need someone with an engineering or construction background to help me construct those. I got the idea when I was in the kitchen painting and sunlight shone through the canvas.

I understand you grew up here?
I was born in Alaska ; my dad was in the military and I grew up in North Carolina. I've been in Saluda over 14 years.

Did you pick Saluda or did it pick you?
Saluda picked me--it was karma. Despite the fact that I'm a little eccentric, I've always felt loved and accepted there. Saluda is my family. There's such a deep connection among the people of Saluda. When I first saw the house that I live in now, no one was living in it, and I said "that's a grandma house." It was built for the first mayor of Saluda around 1895. It's a great house with character.

Are there other places currently showing your art?
I have work in Saluda at the Purple Onion, Tosh's Whistlestop, Saluda Grade Café, Your Arts Desire artist co-op, and Trinity Street Gallery in Abbeville, SC. There's my new blog, too: http://bonniebardos.blogspot.com which folks can access off your blog, jazzandpoetry.com!

What's your next adventure?
I'm already working on my next project. Some people lose steam, but I try to paint every day. I've already got new canvas out. I'm on a journey, and have come so far. After 9/11 I chose to begin painting every day, left my marriage, and went through a very dark time. I transcended the pain and suffering by painting and choosing to create beauty with my talents. All the bad times have served as lessons to me, but I don't want to dwell on all of that.

Perhaps it will help others who are going through troubled times to hear how you've "dug yourself out of the hole."
I was left penniless without child support to raise my son alone, and the people in Saluda showed me nothing but kindness. They gave support through money, food, hugs, and other kindnesses. I have nothing but gratitude for the people of Saluda and the desire to pay that forward and give to others, especially women who are down on their luck. I've been there.

What's your favorite piece?
I'd have to say the crow paintings are lot of fun with a lot of energy. There's a piece with a ladder, two crows, barbed wire, and bird eggs. All of it is based on Jungian psychology. It's all about something much greater. Crows are very intelligent birds. They know who they are and are very powerful birds of strength.

I notice you have shiny metal earrings, aren't crows attracted to things like that?
Crows are into shiny things, and I'm into the metaphysical realm. I don't want to paint just a pretty landscape; I put my soul into it and hope people see that. I like to make people think deeper. Painting is my way of making a change in this world.

Unravel the hidden puzzles and enjoy the color and light of these paintings for yourself. Bonnie Bardos' exhibit "Out of the Blue" will be up at the Tryon Fine Arts Center's Gallery I through February 4th open Tues – Sat 10am-4pm.