I was born into a city of sharp light, tall ever-shifting shadows, hard edges, constant motion, a multitude of reflecting surfaces and night-time glitter: New York, N.Y. A childhood fascination with mica sparkling in the cement sidewalks, sunlight flashing off tiny multi-colored cars streaming down the Westside Highway, sunset colors reflecting in the ruffled water of the Hudson River, neon signs coming on at night against the black New Jersey shore -- all evolved into a life-long love of luminosity and the sculptural qualities of light and darkness. Summers were spent in the small-village farm country of the Catskill Mountains in the company of three generations of my family. The embracing quiet, the softness of the rolling mountains, grassy fields and billowing tree-tops, the unaccustomed freedom to roam, all added different informing passions that I attempt to express in my artwork. For the past 20-plus years I have lived with, and love, the dramatic contrasts of big-sky Southern Arizona, in the foothills of Tucson, an outdoor sort of city within the Sonoran Desert.
As to my art education, I was first encouraged by my father, who before going into business had studied at The Art Students League and worked as a free-lance illustrator. He took me with him on weekend painting outings in the country when I was little and set me up with my own paints and canvas paper. After graduating from Bryn Mawr College I returned to my beloved New York City where I earned a 4-year Certificate in Fine Art through the Cooper Union's evening art school. One of my favorite drawing teachers there was the great Robert Gwathmey. Many years later, anticipating the void of my son's departure for college, I studied watercolor technique with an accomplished friend in my then hometown of East Aurora, N.Y. I chose watercolor because the medium demands speed and decisiveness, neither of which were my natural strengths. I have also taken various work-shops: in silk-screen printing and monotype - including one in Santa Fe with Gregory Kondos, and in plein-air oil-painting with Ray Roberts. Off and on I have worked at life drawing at The Drawing Studio in Tucson, Arizona.
Bonnie See joined Pixels.com Licensing on September 13th, 2015.
