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Jane Bonnell, the younger of two children, has been living in Joly township between South River and Sundridge, Ontario since 1995.

She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Windsor and she graduated with a Governor General's Medal in 1986. She also has a Diploma (Honours) from the Craft and Design program at Sheridan College with a major in fabric design (weaving and screen printing).

Solo exhibitions of her work have been held at: Women's Own Resource Centre (South River, Ontario, 2004, 2005-06), South River Arts Festival (South River, Ontario, 1998-99, 2000-01, 2002, 2003), South River/ Machar Union Library (South River, Ontario, 1996), Annual Studio Show (Toronto, Ontario,1987-95), Common Ground Gallery (Windsor, Ontario, 1986, 1987), Trail Gallery (Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1984), Brock Street Gallery (Kingston, Ontario, 1982), Framework Gallery (Brockville, Ontario, 1981, 1982), St. Lawrence College (Brockville, Ontario, 1980, 1981), Andrew Dickson's Gallery (Pakenham, Ontario, 1978) and the Brockville Civic Theatre (Brockville, Ontario, 1981-82). Also, an annual solo exhibition of Jane's work has been held at Renee's Café Gallery (South River, Ontario) between 1998 and 2006 inclusive.

She has received the following grants from the Ontario Arts Council: Exhibition Assistance (2003, 2004, 2006), Creative Artists in the Schools (1989, 1990, 1991), and a Studio Grant (1975).

Her work is held in the following collections: Chalmers Collection, Ontario Crafts Council, St. Lawrence College, Sheridan College, University of Windsor, and corporate, law and medical offices.

(The biographical information featured here was written in consultation with the artist in 2006.)

Interview:

"I can't remember not drawing," says Jane Bonnell. "I've always drawn." As a child, she drew what was around her, which resulted in many drawings of "kitchen stuff". Her mother was a painter and an art teacher, which meant Jane had access to beautiful art books, museums, and classes, and she had "all kinds of privileges like hanging out at the art college" where her mother taught.

"I've always felt like a maker," she says, because she "always, always, always made things". The label of artist, though, was hard won she says. She first felt like an artist when she returned to school for the second time, and realized that being an artist was what she wanted to do.

Although she used to paint abstract works, and felt that she would be an abstract painter, she has "too much attachment to the land. It's kind of a spiritual touchstone." Living between South River and Sundridge, Ontario has given her the "free[dom] to paint landscapes" because they're not considered "retro" like in Toronto, she says. Just as promoting landscape paintings can be a challenge in a larger city, promoting abstract painting in a more remote area can be difficult.

Painting the landscape is an intimate process for Jane. She needs to see a setting for all four seasons two or three times before she really feels like she knows a place. Although she has seen and enjoyed living in a number of places, "Ontario has been home for a long time," she says. She says, "There's a lot of splendour in the north, if you can stop shivering long enough [to notice]." She realized how significant her environment was to her work when she was working as a fabric designer and noticed that the prominent tree in a silk-screened print she had made was based on the tree in her driveway.

Her creative process involves occasionally painting studies en plein air when she first arrives in a place. "Being outside is a fairly direct part of the process," she says. As for other types of reference material, "photographs don't tell me enough," she says. "Drawings tell me more." In fact, she believes "drawing is a way of knowing."

After observing her mother teach, Jane felt that teaching came naturally. "Craft, design--I grew up with all this stuff," she says. She found great joy in teaching children, and encouraging their confidence. "What's really inspiring about teaching is that it gives kids a chance for success."

(By Heather Saunders, based on an interview in December, 2006).

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Jane Bonnell
2006

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Jane Bonnell, Artist statement
2004

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Jane Bonnell, Correspondence from W. K. P. Kennedy Gallery
1 December 2003