Meet One Of America's Prolific Artists
When you look at Bonnie E. Rodgers’ paintings, be prepared to surrender your imagination to exciting and shimmering colors in watercolor, oils, mixed media, etc. Fellow artists have called her one of the most prolific artists they know due to her use of Acrylics, Oils, Watercolors, Mixed Media, Collages, Pen & Ink, and so much more to reflect her artistic voice. Each endeavor is infused with feeling of a moment of the very fabric of her life.
She received her Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in Studio Arts Painting from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and her Masters, Magna Cum Laude both, after several life altering occurrences changed her life’s direction. “Painting the fabric of my life has become my life’s goal. I believe that it is important to find something extraordinary in the ordinary content of my life, giving that something quiet grandeur, and take part of it away with me – within my soul.” Inspiration comes from many directions: journaling, regional migrating and indigenous creatures, societies complexities, en Pleine Air painting sessions, family roots in Wisconsin and Nebraska, old barns built with the hands of my forefathers from pine planks atop field stones gathered as they cleared the land, planted in their bib overalls and secure in their low gear lives.”
Artists, Emily Carr and Mary Cassett gave her courage, Dr. Rebecca Olephant told her to "Do what makes you HAPPY" Dr. Francis Thurber taught her that sketching and journaling helps to incorporate more meaning into her work.
Bonnie is a natural teacher who is intuitive in developing the student’s own natural voice. She shares openly and candidly about the techniques she uses and the ones she tried that didn't work for her. Mrs. Rodgers says that the use of different media and techniques help expand her knowledge of color, texture, and design.
Mrs. Rodgers is very active giving back to her community through teaching adults and children, mentoring, donating her art and talents to organizations close to her heart. She also finds time to develop self-help books for recovery, writes short stories and poetry. She is encouraged by the thought that her artwork hangs in numerous private and corporate collections internationally and represented by Creative Arts Gallery in Beatrice, Nebraska and many other galleries and events.
See the December, 2007 issue of The Artist's Magazine for one of her award. She was honored with finalist status in the experimental catagory for "Country Living", an expressive art collage.
My art disclaimer:Over the years, critics have pushed me to declare my artistic style though style is little more than a technique that galleries, art critics, or art historians use to recognize one work from another, and declare its worth. I want my work to reflect my diverse interests, skill level, and mastery of various media techniques. I strive to be honest, create from my heart, and let my soul soar in the creative process. Reining me in stops the creative being that I am that responds to the world around me and to the silent passing of my thoughts, characters I've met, my influences. I will not allow anyone to limit my expressitivity.
Award, Honors, and Further Studies:
National Fine Art:
Landscape Artists International, member
American Watercolor Society, member
The Artist’s Magazine, December 2007, Finalist, “Country Living”
Art-Exchange.com, New York Art Expo, June 2007,
Art-Exchange.com, Las Vegas Expo, September 2006
Who's Who in Executives and Professionals
American Mothers, Inc. 2002, Second Place in Watercolor for “Tea and Roses”
Regional Fine Art:
Vice-President, Omaha Artists Inc. 2008
Gwen McKenzie Fellowship Award, 2006
Silver Palette, February 2005, “Fury in the Eyes” second place
Award Of Excellence “Country Living” 2005
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” 2004,
Omaha Artists Inc, Honorable Mention, watercolor, “Variegated Beauty” 2004
Nebraska State Sarpy County Fair, First Place, mixed media, “Spring Into Color” 2003
Nebraska Mothers Association, First Place, Watercolor, “Tea and Roses” 2002Bellevue Artists Association, 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, UNO 1997-1998
SAP Scholarship, 1996
UNO, Margaret Naylor Scholarship, 1995-1996
Semi-finalist national poetry contest, 1996, two poems
UNO Fine Arts College Mentoring Program, Fall Semester 1997
National Amputee Association Scholarship 1995-1996
