Elfi Bonn welcomes you to her Paradise Studio

MISTY

2011-10-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

Greetings -- fourteen years ago Misty came to us as a small gray and white ball of fluff and instantly endeared herself to us all. Back then I drew a picture of her and half way through this one I realized I'd chosen the exact same pose. Maybe that's because she is so often curled up in a corner of my art studio this way. My best pal, confidante and sweet companion, she will forever reside in my heart and soul, and now on my wall!

This is an acrylic on canvas measuring 24 x 46 inches and is (obviously!) not for sale.

BLUES on the WING

2011-09-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Hello ... this painting morphed into it's present state having started out with only the croton leaves which gave a dazzling, psychedelic effect, all quite overwhelming to the senses. My eyes simply couldn't take it! It was like looking through a kaleidescope and made one almost dizzy, forcing the eye to look away. Not good! So I changed the composition altogether when a friend sent me some photos of hummingbirds that he'd taken in his garden. Those jewel toned birds were North-American however and although Mexican gardens abound with the red and green ones as well, I utilized Mexican blue hummingbirds as my main subject matter in honor of this tropical region.

This is an acrylic painting measuring 90 cm wide by 100 cm long. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $375.00 U.S. + shipping.

SUNSEEKER

2011-08-02T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hello to all -- it's been a long while since I've posted as life's follies got in the way but here I am again, wielding my paint brushes and (hopefully) creating something pleasing to the eye and inspirational to the spirit.

To get back into the swing of things I thought, ok, I need to find a subject that I truly enjoy painting and just dive in. So, camera in hand for reference photos, I walked around my garden and started snapping shots of the incredible flora that is part of my world. I especially love the play of sunlight as it filters through the upper palm fronds, seeking out and dancing across the leaves of the undergrowth.

The main star of this painting (the olive and red colored plant in the foreground, in case there are any doubts) appears as if reaching out for whatever warmth the sun may bestow upon it's gently curving leaves, just as the hanging palm fronds seem to tickle and tease them. There's a lot going on in nature if you just stop and take a look every now and then.

This is acrylic on canvas measuring 80 X 1.20 cms. Anyone interested in purchase please contact me here. $375.00 U.S. + shipping.

CURIOUS

2011-04-24T11:59:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone -- this cat gazing upward attentively with features half lit in a dark setting makes a wonderful model. The curiosity in her eyes is both mesmerizing and captivating.

This is oil on a sheet of canvas measuring approx. 20 X 16 inches. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here.

FIERCE MAMA

2011-03-27T12:57:00.001-07:00

Hello all -- Here is an orange beauty guarding her young one with a "don't take a step closer" look. I love the contrast between the wisened features of the mother and the innocence of the kitten as they lie together. In the original photo of these cats there was another kitten present but I opted to omit it as its face was buried beneath its sibling with just the bottom end sticking out. Just the two of them made a better composition.

This is oil on canvas measuring 40 x 30 cm. Anyone interested in purchasing this painting please contact me here. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the local shelter.

MAYA

2011-03-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hello to all - I got caught up helping a friend to create some content for her new web site (coming soon) all about cats and a new line of fabulous and "green" cat toys, the link to which I'll provide once she's ready to launch. Meanwhile the above is an acrylic painting of one her featured cats, Maya, depicting a Mexican black cat who is born near the ruins of Chichen-Itza. I will continue within this genre creating cat paintings of every sort and they will be available for sale with a cut going to a local shelter. If you purchase one rest assured that this will happen as there are many animals in need here. Anyone interested in buying "Maya" can contact me here. All the best to all of you, E.

WHIRLING AND TWIRLING

2011-02-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

A good day to all -- had a few visitors as of late who kept me happily busy but now that they've gone back to their everyday lives I too am back to mine.

Here's the first of a few paintings I had left half done awaiting my attention. It's an 8 x 10 inch oil on canvas of a dancer doing her thing, aptly named I think.

Anyone interested in purchasing this piece please contact me here. $75.00 U.S. + shipping.

FLIRT

2011-01-04T12:32:00.000-08:00

A Very Happy New Year to all ... here's my first for 2011, a flirtatious dancer in red polka dots. This is a small piece in oils and measuring only 8 x 16 inches. The dancers who participate in the various shows around Cancun and the Riviera Maya make excellent subjects with their lively costumes and energetic dance moves.

Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $125.00 U.S. + shipping.

TURBULENT SKY

2010-12-28T10:14:00.000-08:00

Hello to everyone ... here is a smaller oil painting I recently completed. It's a bit of fantasy around the horse theme I've been into lately, Pegassus in the night sky. I've always loved mythological creatures and may expand upon that subject a bit before I'm through. Stay tuned ...

This piece measures 12 x 20 inches. If interested in purchase contact me here. $125.00 U.S.

ABSTRACT GROUP

2010-12-18T12:26:00.000-08:00

Season's Greetings to all -- I've been busy this last while painting this group of 5 for a client. Not my usual style but then one must give the client what they ask for.

Back soon with more of my own... E.

LIBERTAD (LIBERTY)

2010-11-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

Hello to all -- here is my latest oil painting done on canvas which can be hung with or without a frame. These two horses cavorting in the surf take me back to a time when I was horse-crazy in my youth when I would draw horses unendingly with all the passion I had for these lovely creatures. It's a feeling I've never quite departed from.

This measures 40 x 24 inches. Anyone interested in purchasing can contact me here. $250.00 + shipping.

REGATTA

2010-11-04T07:20:00.000-07:00

Hello ... I recently worked on this project for a client who requested a painting of a regatta ... he had a photo and wanted it converted to an oil painting for his new home, still in construction. So I worked studiously every day for 5-6 hours amidst all the workers, noise (buzz saws!) and flying debris (dust galore!), sometimes on a scaffold to reach the higher aspects, and completed the entire project within 8 days. Not bad.

These photos show the work in it's entirety, a shot with me in it (in my grubby painting garb) to show the scale of the work, and some detail shots for a closer inspection.

CALLA LILY WHITES

2010-10-23T12:37:00.000-07:00

Finally! -- a new painting. Calla lilies abound here in this humid tropic zone and they are often the subjects of painters both Mexican and otherwise. Here's my version; they just lept out at me from a somewhat dense and dark background as I walked a jungle path a while back, begging to be painted!

This is acrylic on canvas measuring 24 x 38.5 inches. Anyone interested in purchasing this painting please contact me here.

CHARRAS

2010-08-30T11:15:00.001-07:00

August is growing to a close but September will continue to swelter by the feel of things. We're in the midst of hurricane season and so far so good, not one of them has touched land yet.

I've immersed myself in this triple panel acrylic painting of four Mexican Charras (rodeo riders) putting their horses through their paces. Their costumes seem terribly cumbersome but provide a flash of vivid color as they stream past in a cloud of thundering hooves and dust.

I enjoyed this project although it took me a while to get it right ... I must have worked the background over at least three times before settling on the current combination of hues and texture.

This measures approx. 54 x 36 inches including all three panels, quite large actually with impact. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. On to the next ... will post again soon. Cheers, E.

HIBISCUS

2010-08-05T08:01:00.000-07:00

Hello -- this year we're having a bonafide rainy season and everything has become quite lush. The itch to paint becomes intensified by the lure of vivid flowers all around. These hibiscus blooms poke their heads through the palm stalks seeking their share of the sun, offering themselves up, opening fully to bask in the summer warmth. I'm especially intrigued by the veiny detail of the soft petals ... they are strikingly bold while retaining their delicacy.

This is a large acrylic measuring approx. 31 x 43 inches. Anyone interested in purchase can contact me here. $300 U.S. + shipping.

FLAMINGO GROVE

2010-06-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Hello, it's been a while as life has kept me away from the canvas for a bit, but finally here's my latest painting endeavor, a group of flamingos doing their thing in a sun drenched grove. I photographed these graceful birds in a man-made setting at X-Caret eco-park and the plants in the foreground weren't part of the original photo but I thought they might add a little punch to the scene.

This is acrylic on wrap-around canvas measuring 17.5 x 13.5 inches and l.5 inches deep. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $250.00 U.S. + shipping.

TWO BLONDES

2010-05-13T10:53:00.001-07:00

Hello, here's a painting in acrylic I created for an animal portrait poster showing the inclusion of the "human element", precisely... me! Okay, admittedly I took the liberty of painting a few years off of myself, but what the heck...!

If you'd like a portrait of your pet with or without you (or another family member perhaps) please contact me here. I'm reasonable about pricing and a portion of the proceeds will go to the (much needed) dog shelter here.

GINGER CAT

2010-04-29T06:34:00.000-07:00

Good day to all -- here's a head shot of an orange beauty, an option for those interested in having their pet's portrait done. If so, please contact me here.

Onward to the next ... E.

GYPSY THE LAB

2010-04-28T06:45:00.000-07:00

Hello again -- haven't posted for a bit due to a nasty flu-bug going around that hit our family hard and had me playing nurse-maid. Luckily so far I've dodged it and am keeping my fingers crossed that it's not just hibernating!

This post is all about my latest project, putting together a poster that will be plastered in vets offices and pet stores in an effort to drum up pet portrait business, a portion of the proceeds, if any, to be donated to our local shelter. The poster will have at least four examples of my work on it and this is the first. Gypsy is a beautiful gray lab with inquisitive eyes that bore into your soul. What do you think? ... E.

BEACHY KEEN

2010-03-30T10:54:00.001-07:00

Greetings to all -- The strip of land that juts out into the ocean that makes up the hotel zone in Cancun has no unspoiled beaches left due to the "resort invasion". But on the Riviera Maya that runs the length of the Yucatan Peninsula starting from Canucn all the way to Chetumal (including such well-knowns like Playa del Carmen and Tulum) these types of beaches still exist if one travels off the beaten path. It's not often one finds one self alone on such a strip of paradise but it does happen on occassion.

This is acrylic on canvas, a large piece measuring 47 x 32 inches. Anyone interested in purchase please contact me here. $375.00 U.S. + shipping.

WITHIN EDEN

2010-03-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

A good Sunday morning to all -- here's my latest endeavor, a larger piece measuring 23 x 48 inches, acrylic on wrap-around canvas, meaning it won't require a frame, although one can be used if desired.

There are no such waterfalls nearby and so I let my imagination fill in the blanks, keeping the entire composition loose with dark, moody overall coloring off-set by white gushing water and brighter reflections in the pool at the base. My husband says he sees the face of an old woman in the rockery mid-center, and now that he's mentioned it, so do I!

Anyone interested in purchase contact me here. $225.00 U.S. + shipping.

NUTTY BUNCH

2010-03-09T12:24:00.001-08:00

Hi again -- I'm surrounded by so many coconuts, it's hard not to put paint brush to canvas on a subject so close at hand. I seem to be bouncing around a little theme-wise these days but when inspiration hits there's no sense ignoring it.

This one is acrylic on canvas measuring 20 X 40 inches. A curiosity about this painting is that it can be hung either vertically or horizontally as both make perfect sense in terms of how coconuts hang on a palm. (The signature however is on the lower right hand corner but this can be easily overcome if someone wants to hang it that way.)

Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $250.00 U.S. + shipping.

BLACK CLAY JUG

2010-02-28T11:44:00.000-08:00

Hello -- Thought I'd get this last one in before the month ends. I had abandoned this one some time ago to attend other works but now it's done.

This is acrylic on a single sheet of canvas (for ease of shipping). I've been asked how one goes about framing a canvas sheet as opposed to canvas on stretcher bars, so I've included two images to illustrate how it would look once matted and framed. This can be done two ways: it can be stretched onto thin stretcher bars and then mounted into a traditional frame, or it can be treated as one would frame a print by adhering it to either a wood or cardboard backing to make it sturdy, then simply placing a mat and frame over that. (Don't recommend using a glass cover as this diminishes the impact regardless if it's non-reflective.) Any professional framer should be able to tackle it without mishap, and if you're a do-it-yourselfer, it's not too hard; I framed this one myself.

Anyone interested in purchasing contact me here. It measures approx. 22 x 16 inches. $120 U.S. + shipping.

FOLLOW THE LEADER

2010-02-25T10:37:00.000-08:00

This one took a while as "life" got in the way of my painting sessions, and then the fine line between working on the details and knowing when to stop began to blur. What happens to me is that sometimes when I'm painting one thing, my mind begins to wander toward another idea and I have to force myself to shake off those meandering thoughts and concentrate on the matter at hand. There have been times (although not recently) that I've had as many as three or four paintings going at once, especially when working in oils due to drying time, and it takes a mental slap in the face to get your concentration level to where it needs to be, namely on the current painting. Anyway, here's my latest: "Follow the Leader" -- it's acyrlic on canvas sheet (no stretcher bars) measuring approx. 11.5 x 15.5 inches.

SOLD

FIESTA DANCERS

2010-02-07T12:37:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone -- The color!, the movement!, the visual bedazzlement of Mexican fiesta dancers! This region is teeming with authentic dance troupes representing the different states of Mexico in their tipica clothing as they tap out rythms, swing and sway in tandem, thoroughly enjoying their art as they entertain the thousands of visitors who flock to our area every day. Who can resist painting them? Not me!

This is an 8 x 10 inch acyrlic on wrap-around canvas.

SOLD

CENOTE UNDERWORLD

2010-01-24T11:47:00.000-08:00

Hello -- this cenote differs from the previous one in that it is fed by a purely underground water source. From above hang the various tree roots and creeping foliage that thrive in the damp atmosphere. Some of these cenotes often have unseen depths to them while in others the bottom is clearly visible. To swim in such a scenario is a treat beyond measure.

This is acrylic on canvas measuring 20 x 13.5 inches.

SOLD

CENOTE

2010-01-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hello -- this is one of those paintings that you keep working on when you should really put your brush down and STOP! The challenge here was to stay loose and not get too, too detailed, as I was tempted to do. I mostly wanted to portray the depth of the cavern and the feeling of awe one experiences when standing inside a grand cenote.

The Yucatan peninsula is riddled with cenotes, or underground water wells, many of which were sacred to the ancient Maya. This particular one is different than most in that it's water supply comes from above as well as below.

This is acrylic on canvas measuring 14 x 18 inches. If interested in purchasing please contact me here. $125.00 U.S. + shipping.

POOL PARTY

2009-12-23T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hello -- it's getting close to Christmas and I decided to give my husband this painting as a gift; he's flying in today for the holidays from Costa Rica where he's been working this past month and he really misses our very special dog, Coco. People often confuse Coco with Cocoa or even Koko, but our dear, sweet-natured furry friend, a Siberian Husky with ice blue eyes that pierce your soul, has been named after the delicious insides of a coconut, which by nature is white, like her. We thought it apt as she was born in the tropics and does quite well despite the heat. Here she is keeping cool with Victor in our pool.

This is an acrylic on wraparound canvas measuring approx. 18 x 13 inches -- and obviously not for sale! Happy painting to all, and my best wishes for this holiday season and new year to come... Elfi.

BEARDED LADIES

2009-12-19T09:24:00.001-08:00

A goodday to all -- this acrylic on canvas had been sitting patiently on an easel awaiting my attention for some time, abandoned for other projects. I decided to give it some attention and here's the result. This area is abundant in these types of palms and from the first moment I saw them I thought of them as "bearded ladies" with their dying foliage hanging down.

Bearded Ladies measures 15.5 x 20 inches with a wrap-around canvas approx. 1.5 inches deep on the stretcher bars. Anyone interested in purchase contact me here. $125.00 U.S + shipping.

THREE MUSKATEERS

2009-12-03T08:48:00.000-08:00

Hello to all -- I photographed these three pelicans off the tip of Punta Nizuc as they bobbed on the water looking much like an old trio of friends.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on board. Anyone interested in purchasing please contact me here. $90.00 U.S. + shipping.

BRUISED SKY

2009-12-01T07:39:00.001-08:00

It's December and the weather at this time of year is unpredictable. Sudden storm clouds loom on the horizon and either dissipate at sea or make their gloomy sojourne over our beaches to pour out their hearts and souls onto the sand.

That black and blue cloud rising off the horizon looks almost like a wave about to crash on the shore as it nears menacingly. The air at such a time is crisp as fresh linen and filled with the promise of a dramatic downpour. Very invigorating.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acryclic on board -- anyone interested in purchasing contact me here. $75.00 U.S. + shipping.

HITCHING A RIDE

2009-11-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Good day to all -- Here are two pelicans from the region of Isla Mujeres taking a ride on a small boat. As is the norm here most days, it was a pristine day for it.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on board, $90 U.S. + shipping. Anyone interesting in purchasing contact me here.

DON'T RUFFLE MY FEATHERS!!

2009-11-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday to all -- These two pelicans seemed to me to be having a dispute, maybe over who got the better post to stand on? Whatever the case, their lively chatter inspired me to photograph and paint them against their intensely hued background.

This is an 8 x 10 inch acrylic on canvas board. $90 + shipping -- for those interested, contact me here.

CROSSWALK

2009-11-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

Hi to all -- more on the flamingo theme; they truly are amazing creatures. I snapped a few photos of them some time ago at the X-Caret eco-part on the Mayan Riviera, about an hour's drive from my home, and have suddenly been inspired to paint them.

This is an 8 x 10 on canvas board in acrylic. If interested to purchase please contact me here -- $90 + shipping.

PRETTY IN PINK

2009-11-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Hello once again -- I've been on a bird theme lately as there are so many in this region, their plumage so vibrant that they just beg to be painted.

This is a 10 x 12 inch acrylic on canvas-board. $110 + shipping, if interested click here to contact me.

RAINY DAY BLUES

2009-11-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

Hello -- it's been a while since I've posted as I've been off to visit family in Victoria, B.C. where they were enjoying an Indian summer. I seem to have brought back all that lovely heat though as our own autumn has been hotter than usual, our usual rainy season delayed by months.

Rainy Day Blues is a triple-panel canvas, as much a diversion from my usual tropical renditions as is Blue Riot. I was experimenting with acrylics this time and wanted to create something from my daughter's youth -- that glorious time on the cusp of puberty where innocence still reigns supreme. Yes, those are fairies spreading a magic sleeping potion on her so she can dream the dismal, rainy afternoon away!

I'll get back to my tropical themes very soon -- until then take care -- E.

PAPAYAS

2009-07-29T09:09:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful morning, the heat not quite so intense, a light tropical breeze blowing. My son just headed for the beach to go kite-surfing and I would have joined him (not to kite-surf myself -- too extreme of a sport for me!) but I've got several paintings going, half finished on their easels, so I'd best reign in some self-discipline and get to work. Sometimes it's like that, you have to be your own task-master.

And on that note, I'm off to paint ... 'til next time, happy brushstrokes to all -- E.

BLUE RIOT

2009-07-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Hello to all -- Looking at BLUE RIOT, a field of white daisies against a blue background, you might see bits of red glowing through here and there. I used cadmium red as an underpainting and it seems to glow through in spots, giving it a wonderful luminosity. It's a remake of an old and faded painting (at the client's request). Good luck friends on all of your painting endeavors -- until next time, E.

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DOLPHIN SUNSET

2009-07-22T13:17:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone -- this oil painting I polished off in very little time in one layer, avoiding the over-use of mediums as I'd become prone to do. Cracking is an issue when layering and it can trip you up (at least it does me!) if you don't pay very close attention to the right mediums and the quantity used.

Here's a cool link to an article that explains different types of mediums and their uses, working in layers utilizing mediums for fast or slow drying. Here's a clean up tip for your brushes: use baby oil! Make sure your brushes are thoroughly clean.

Stay tuned -- E.

INSPIRATION

2009-07-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

Hello again. I love to walk and often take Coco my dog out in the early dawn or right at sunset when it's not as hot and use that time to connect with nature, my personal connection with God. On those walks, tropical nature never fails to amaze me with it's palette of colors and textures. So much to see on a grand or magnified scale: a sloping palm tree, a single dewdropped leaf, two or three wildflowers wavering in the breeze.

The painting of the lovebirds above was inspired by walking under a palm tree and seeing a crow perched on a branch... I thought, why not lovebirds, and "Treetop Conference" was born.

More to come -- E.

SPOTLIGHT

2009-07-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hello readers! This is a close up on a spotted jaguar, part of a larger piece I completed some time ago in oil on canvas. The jaguar was as sacred animal to the Mayan culture which is apparent everywhere one goes here, especially at Chichen-Itza near Merida about three hours to the north of Cancun. The animal is carved in stone and painted on a variety of surfaces, very prominent as a religious entity.

I enjoyed the challenge of painting the spots. This spotted jaguar was done in stages using a layering process. Before I began I researched exactly how a jaguar's spots are distributed on its body, the likely position of it's body as it lay on the ground, the expression in the eyes and proper coloring. I wanted the viewer to be drawn in by the jaguar but at the same time not allow the jaguar to dominate the entire work. You can view the entire piece on one of my art sites listed in the upper right corner of this page.

I have three cats who loll about my studio as a rule. They do this to avoid contact with the great white beast, our lovely and charismatic siberian husky who has the run of the lower floor; my studio is on the second. Their tranquility lends itself to me, all characters in their own right providing me with a calm, peaceful vibe.
All for now, back soon -- E.

THE BIRTH OF PARADISE STUDIO

2009-07-20T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello to all -- over twenty years have passed since I made the transition from living in a cold, wet climate to this exotic locale amongst people of a different culture. Perhaps some of you readers have also done so and are curious to see how your experience differs from mine. I had already lived in Mexico for many years pursuing a demanding career before I decided to pick up a paint brush and chase the fulfillment that creativity brings to oneself. In doing so I rediscovered a lost passion for painting, one that I'd cultivated in my youth before leaving it behind as my life so dictated.

I am mostly self taught and still learning. I had studied art and applied design in high school and excelled at both, but never pursued a career in either. Back in the day I had little guidance as to what kind of careers were available to artists and it was largely assumed that artists ended up as poor bohemians, struggling to get by. Hindsight and foresight aside, life takes us where we're supposed to go, so it took me a while to get back to the roots of my original passion. I started painting again about five years ago. Cancun is expanding at an alarming rate and now has a more diverse variety of art supplies available, but when I first started, materials were quite limited. I went to the Papeleria Cancun, a large warehouse-like structure that caters to business, scolastic and artistic needs. There I bought my first set of oil paints (I'd always used water-colors), brushes, canvas, mediums and easel. Since I'd never attemped oils before I began to research on the web, educating myself as to technique. I have since then produced all manner of paintings from plein air to layered works completed over time so as to give them luminosity and depth. And recently I've taken up acrylics as well.

Here is a link to one of the web sites I'm associated with. You can view some of my paintings and if so inclined, order an original or a print.

If any of you have questions about the life of an artist here I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability... just leave a comment. I'll be posting my latest works regularly so come back soon for more snippets about life on the outskirts of the rat race and the artwork I create inspired by the magnificent Caribbean ocean as well as the people and culture of the region. Bye for now -- E.