Conrad's oil painting is distinct in its passion for color,
its celebration of light and its somewhat impressionistic
approach. It whispers the influence of the study of her
favorites, both past; Sorolla, Sargent, Degas, and present;
John Asaro, Pino, James Reynolds, Mian Situ and others.
In the year 1987 Bonnie found herself standing before
a beautiful painting saying "I think I could do this if
I just had time". (A conversation she had had with herself
countless times since she became irreversably hooked on
her first oil painting class in 1973). Of course, there
had been many visits to galleries and museums, hours of
study, several more workshops and even a little painting
in between moving every four years with her husband's work
as a ranch manager with a large company and raising six
children. But the thirst wouldn't leave and this time the
self conversation continued...."How long are you going to
keep saying I think I could?" The challenge was accepted
and Bonnie decided to throw her hat in the ring of the professional
world. She was greeted with a "Best of Show" award at the
first show she entered as "Professional" at the Cody Country
National Invitational!
In 1991, Art of the West magazine named Conrad one of
eight "artists to keep and eye on" as did Southwest
Art after that. In May of 1996 she was invited to join the
Western Academy of Women Artists (WAWA and later changed
to American Academy of Women Artists AAWA), she served as
a Signature Member of that organization for ten years and
its President for three and a half years. In 2006 Conrad
was invited to Signature status in the prestigious Oil Painters
of America as well as by the American Plains Artists.
Conrad's work is motivated by color-the fascinating play
between complements, the mysterious subtleties of gray tones
and the endless possibilities for mood. The direction and
manner of the strokes is intriguing to her as well and through
the use of these elements Conrad works to evoke an emotional
response from her viewer. She wants the art enthusiast to
hear the drumbeat and feel the excitement radiating from
a dancing Indian child; to re-live a tender moment between
a mother and her offspring or or to taste the dust and feel
the sun on their face as they view a western ranch scene.
Conrad is deeply concerned that her work should always
lift the human spirit. Her summary is "I want the world
to be a finer, lighter, brighter place for my having painted
here".
American Women Artists (AWA) Signature Member
Oil Painters of America (OPA) Signature Member
American Plains Artists (APA) Signature Member
