WHAT: 17th annual Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival WHO: 165 artists displaying a variety of styles and mediums, along with musicians WHEN: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday - Sunday WHERE: downtown Carefree COST: $3 for adults, Carefree residents and children 18 and under are free

 

Scottsdale painter highlights Carefree arts festival
Marc Buckhout ~ Managing Editor ~ 1/13/2010

Scottsdale resident Jeanne Bonine is filled with energy.
She takes it from her desert home.
Painting inspires it.
“If you’re self taught like I am I can only explain it that I paint from my heart and soul,” she said. “It’s a gift.”
She also receives that energy when one of her pieces brings joy to someone else.
So it comes as no surprise that Bonine is charged up about being the featured artist for the 17th annual Carefree Fine Art and Wine Festival from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday – Sunday in downtown Carefree.
“I’ve been showing at the event for years and I’ve always liked the quality of the artists,” she said. “It’s a highly juried show. Anybody that shows their work there could be the featured artist, because they’re all excellent. I feel fortunate to have that honor. Another thing I like about this type of show is the chance to talk to all the people that come out for the event.”
Bonine will be among 165 artists from around the country, as well as some international artists, showing an array of work that includes southwest and traditional works to contemporary and abstract, figurative, floral, wildlife, European and African. In addition to paintings there will be sculptures, bronzes, glass, wood, clay, metal, stone, gourds, jewelry, and photography among other mediums.
After moving to the Valley in 1994 Bonine began focusing her work on painting desert plants and wildlife. It was at that time that she also faced a serious challenge in her life after being diagnosed with stage III breast cancer.
Despite being told she had just six months to live Bonine said she drew strength from the desert fauna.
“I’ve found a great place here in Arizona,” she said. “I wasn’t afraid of dying. I looked out in my back yard and saw the cactus out there. To see how they survive, blossom and thrive in the harsh desert environment gave me strength.”
Some 16 years later Bonine is still thriving. After spending much of the past 15 years painting in water colors she has returned to her roots, doing oil painting.
“The mediums are entirely different,” she said. “Water colors are gentle and washy where oils are a more substantial, stronger paint. It’s a Zen thing when I do water colors. I lose myself in the work and don’t even realize it until I’m finished. With oils it’s more of an obsession. I’ll stop and then go back to it later in the evening.”
On her website, www.jeannebonine.com explains the joy she takes from painting nature.
“In my quest I have, as an artist, immersed myself in the painting of nature. In its beauty flows the eternal rhythmic heartbeat of natural law and order . . . of reason and passion . . . of harmony and love. Embracing this awareness, I strive to heighten the viewer’s desire for beauty and enhance their sense of peace.”
After 40 years as a painter the Scottsdale resident said she is still thrilled when she meets people that want to buy her art.
“I believe we make a connection,” she said. “When you buy at a show when there is a personal exchange with the artist it’s exciting. When they take one of my pieces home with them they take part of me. If something I did adds to their enjoyment of their home those good feelings come back to me full circle. The purchases themselves you need to survive, but it’s the thrill of making somebody happy that is one of my chief incentives to do my next piece.”
Bonine’s “Way to Wickenburg” was selected as the event’s limited edition print, as only 250 have been made.
In addition to the wide-array of art on display during the festival live entertainment will be performed by “Segovia of the Stick” Bob Culbertson. Culbertson plays the Chapman Stick, an instrument that is a combination of guitar and bass. His musical style ranges from light jazz with folk and blues flavor to classical with Spanish contemporary and traditional influences.
Culbertson will be joined by composer Jeffrey Michael on the keyboard, guitarist Patrick Ki and jazz musician Mark Maxwell.
Beyond the entertainment various food and drink options will be available. For $10 event goers will get an engraved souvenir wine glass and six wine tasting tickets good for sampling any of a array of domestic and imported wines.
For information on the event, sponsored by the Thunderbird Artists go to www.thunderbirdartists.com of call 480-837-5637.
Entrance to the festival is $3 for adults. Carefree residents and kids under 18 are free.