B. J. (Bonnie) Brentz • Arizona • waow
| Representational Oil Paintings | Landscape | Plants | Mountains | Western Landscapes | Farm Animals | Flowers | Still Life |
"Painting seems to merge who I am with what I do. It lets me explore the people, places, and things of this world. I am a representational painter because I want to visually squeeze all the information about my subjects until I feel like I know them personally. Then, I am able to send them out into the world, both of us better for the time spent sharing our energies."
Women Artists of the West
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Bonnie J. Brentz
Representational Oil Painter
Bonnie was interested in art since she was a child. Her first commercial venture was in second grade. She made her own paper dolls and sold them and the clothes she designed for them, to her friends.
Bonnie attended college with the idea of becoming a classical painter in the manner of the old masters. The art school environment at that time didn't quite meet her desires. After some time off to paint on her own, she returned to college to combine her art interest with her science interest. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical communications. Bonnie went on to work in medical illustration and graphics for many years.
A fortuitous lay-off allowed Bonnie time to return to her first love. She has been painting full time since then. She had a grounding in classical art training and had taken many workshops and been a member of critique groups. But, she really considers herself to be self-taught.
Bonnie lived for many years in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She got an opportunity to travel to the hill country there in Texas, and paint with a plein aire group. It started a love of the landscape of the southwest. Bonnie left the south west upon the death of her husband and returned to Michigan where she was originally from. Her inspiration seemed to lack the energy it had had when she was in the southwest. So, in 2017, she and her new love moved to Arizona. She is once again full of energy and inspiration!
Women Artists of the West
