Baranof Arts & Crafts

Association

About the Artist

Bonnie Elsensohn began painting in oils in the 7th grade but converted to acrylics when she was given a set for high school graduation. She was so taken with the versatility of acrylic paints that she completed about 80 paintings in the ‘70s. Then she packed the paints away and devoted her time to developing as a graphic artist.

It was a postcard her sister sent from Greece that intrigued her so much she wanted to paint it. Out came the old paints and, by some miracle, they were not dried up! That Greek
alley was a new beginning.

Although she works in a variety of sizes, she finds that smaller paintings fit into a wider range of display options. The majority of her ideas come from photographs, many of which she takes herself, but she also relies heavily on photos taken by her husband and her sister. Bonnie paints with the signature “bj Kelley,” which is an old family name.

Bonnie and her husband, David, have lived in Southeast Alaska for over 30 years, first in Ketchikan, then Juneau, and best of all, in Sitka. The beauty and the culture of this region is an inspiration for her work.

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To contact Artist directly click on Name

Brooke's Raven

Walking Katlian