It is a special kind of joy when I discover that a portrait I created just because I loved it, has sold to someone who also feels the same way. Bonny Miss Bonnie is one such piece, and she has headed off to live with an animal lover on the south coast of England. I am sure she will enjoy her new home by the sea.
I am a member of an online group where photographers share their pictures for artists to use as inspiration for their work. This sort of community is, for me, one of the best parts of the internet. These connections that are created between strangers bring such pleasure to artists and photographers alike. We are united through creativity, sharing how differently we each see the world through our individual interpretations of the same images.
Miss Bonnie, the star of my pastel portrait, is a character who I have been enjoying vicariously for years. Her owner has been sharing photos of Miss Bonnie living her best life, smiling all the way, and she always makes my heart sing. This pose in particular was irresistable for me, I love the way she appears from the side of the page and the enthusiasm and energy she brings.
When I was invited by Artists and Illustrators to be featured in their magazine, it was Bonny Miss Bonnie who caught the editor’s eye and became the cover star. Seeing her smiling back at me from the shelves in my local newsagents was a wonderful moment. I shared it with Miss Bonnie’s owner, who was so delighted that she rushed out and bought a copy of A&I to be framed and hung on her wall at home.
Connections such as these are welcome reminders for me that the small acts can have far reaching consequences, one photo and one drawing can make countless people’s days brighter, and who doesn’t want more beaming smiles in their days?
