Local artist Bonnie McClusky to be featured this month at Soda Springs Floral

Bonnie McClusky is frequently inspired by the Bailey Creek area in which she lives, where “the forest is right outside the door.”  Over the weekend, Soda Springs Floral welcomed McClusky to its gallery, where her work will be on display for the next month or so.  In addition to original watercolor paintings, McClusky also has prints of many of her works available in various sizes for purchase.

Her work tends to reflect the passions in her own life, which include outdoor landscapes and wildlife.  “That has been one of the greatest joys in my life,” she said, motioning to a painting of her dog.  “Walking with my dogs in the forest—it’s just constant inspiration.  So many of my pictures are from around here, in these forests.”  A selection of the works on hand highlights the local area beautifully.

McClusky also displayed some of the commissioned work she has done on request.  She has painted many portraits of pets—both as a memorials to those pets who have passed on, as well as celebrations of those companions still with their owners—as well as homes and landscapes.  

She also painted the murals at Porters on Main Street.

During the show opening, Bonnie’s paintings seemed to lead people to open up about their own experiences with animals and love of outdoor scenes.  Her paintings of a fox in winter and a close up view of a bear were definitely among the biggest points of discussion for guests, as were many of her recognizably local outdoor scenes.  Before the first hour of the show had ended, a number of the originals had already made their way out the door to be displayed on lucky walls around the area.

McClusky grew up in the Denver area of Colorado, which she explained was “a great place to be from” for someone who loved wildlife and the outdoors, but she was happy to move to a smaller town to retire.

“I’ve pretty much been an artist my whole life,” McClusky said.  She focused on making glass beads, among other things, in the past and has “always been involved in making some kind of art.”  While she does not have a formal education in art, she has taken a number of classes throughout the years, and has the most important ingredient (outside her obvious talent), which is practice.  She started to paint seriously about ten years ago with watercolor as a concentration.  “I’ve always been attracted to watercolor,” she said.  “I just love the medium.  For me, the way it blends on the paper—I just love that.  Learning how it works from light to dark does take a lot of practice, though.”

McClusky has a studio at home, where she creates her art.  

In honor of the show opening, McClusky also completed a number of watercolor studies of spring flowers she especially likes, just in time for Mother’s Day.  Cards and prints are available at the store location.

For commissions, or to inquire about purchasing prints or originals, Bonnie can be contacted at [email protected], or through Marie Crane at Soda Springs Floral.  Crane hosts local artists throughout the year, and a number of them are displaying their art in the coming weeks at a combined show at 3C Grill in Grace, beginning April 24.