I will be a featured artist at the 40th Anniversary of Our World Underwater this weekend at the Donald E. Stephens Convention center in Rosemont Illinois, Feb 19-21.


This is the largest consumer scuba diving exhibition in the Midwest, and will include seminars, workshops, scuba clinics, an underwater photo film festival, and best of all, my Ocean Colors Art booth, #911.


I will also be debuting an exciting new dimension of my work......silk paintings and scarves.  I feel the silk captures the feel of shimmering water, dappled by waves and sunshine.  I will also have many new small matted watercolor and oil paintings, underwater themed postcards, and assorted prints will be offered at a show special of 40% off, and a free gift with every purchase.


If you are a scuba diver, then Our World Underwater is the place to be this weekend, Feb. 19-21 !

CLC Gallery Members Exhibit

The Robert T. Wright Community Gallery of Art, Grayslake Il, will hold the annual members exhibit from Jan. 15-Febr. 21,2010.

This group show features Lake County artist who are members of the gallery.  Works on view include a wide variety of styles and media.

Gallery hours are 9am-9pm, Mon-Thurs; 9am-4:30pm Fri/Sat; 1-5pm Sundays.

My watercolor, "Rocky Overseer", my interpretation of the Split Rock Lighthouse, MN, is hanging in this exhibition.

Watercolor Wisconsin 2009

RAM's Wustum Museum continues a splendid Racine tradition with the opening of Watercolor Wisconsin 2009. As one of the museum's most popular annual shows, this exhibition brings together works from artists throughout the state of Wisconsin. Organized by the museum since 1966, Watercolor Wisconsin exhibitions have established Wustum Museum as a center for watercolor activity in the Midwest. This year's show features 109 pieces by 88 Wisconsin artists.

Of 295 pieces submitted by 164 artists, approximately one third of the pieces were chosen for this year's show. Three new works from this year's competition will be purchased for the Racine Art Museum's permanent collection.

One of my watercolors, Tea Time, was among the submitted and selected pieces. This was the first time that I have submitted to Watercolor Wisconsin, so I feel very honored to now have my piece hanging at Wustum Museum until April 24, 2010.
In my haste to get the piece to Wustum before the deadline, I failed to snap a photo of it, so I will post that in April when the piece comes back home.

Watercolor Wisconsin 2009 runs from Dec. 13, 2009 to April 24, 2010. Wustum Museum is located at 2519 Northwestern Avenue, Racine, WI.

10% off paintings make great Christmas gifts !!!

Original artwork make great Christmas gifts.

Until Dec 31, 2009, I am offering 10% off of original paintings and prints on my website, http://www.bonnielynnsart.com Free shipping, up to $100 purchase is also included.

Because Paypal buttons will NOT comply with this offer on the website, go to the Ordering page and email or call me with your order. Mention the word SANTA to receive your 10% discount. I can accept Visa, MC, or Discover or a check (which must clear my bank before I send out the order).

This time of the year

This time of the year is always a little bittersweet for me.

I lost my father-in-law two days before Christmas to a massive heart attack and my dad, 3 days after Christmas to mesothelioma (lung cancer caused by asbestos).
One was taken quickly and one lingered slowly before being taken from my life.

I go through many emotions and tears at Christmas. The emptiness of death is too much to bear at times, but two beautiful, young grandchildren are helping to fill the voids. Watching them wide-eyed in wonderment of the tree, the lights, and the gifts helps to lessen the pain. Too many ornaments are bunched up on single branches of the tree. Christmas window stickers brings smiles and laughter to all that see my "beautiful" holiday decorations.

There is truly truth in the phrase, "God bless the little children." Children bring joy and laughter to an otherwise lonely heart.

May you experience children in your lives whether they are yours, your grandchildren or neighbors. They are truly a joy to behold.

Little Treasures from the Sea

I love to collect little treasures from the sea when I visit Florida or any of the islands I have scuba'd at. (is THAT a real word !! ha!).
I have large Mason jars filled with shells, but the one I like to show off is one that is filled to the brim with white, brown, green and aqua colored sea glass.

On browsing the internet one day, I came across the website of a delightful woman, Danielle Renee, who lives on the east coast, collects seaglass and creates the most beautiful jewelry from it. I had a larger piece of aqua glass that I thought would look splendid as a ring, so I contacted Danielle and she made an exquisite ring that I am proud to wear.

Along with selling her jewelry, Danielle attends Sea Glass Festivals and has tremendous knowledge of how to find and identify glass shards; the proper care of your sea glass jewelry and too much more to mention here. Danielle was also featured in the April 2009 issue of OCEAN magazine. You can find her ad in Coastal Living magazine also.

I hope that you will take the time to visit Danielle's website http://www.jewelrybydaniellerenee.com/ and find your special ring, bracelet or necklace from the sea.

Watercolor palette

The colors of the rainbow are evident in my watercolor palette. Rainbows aren't as messy as my palette is, but you can see that I love bright colors. They are very evident in my underwater paintings, both watercolor and oils.

Whenever I am having a "blue" day because of the dreary, rainy weather outside, I open my box of paints and I immediately take on a brighter attitude.

The painting of the waterlilies was inspired by a trip to St. Germain, in northern Wisconsin where I took close-up photos from a row boat of the lilies and pads popping through the water in East Bay.