Thursday, May 14, 2015

Todd Bonita Gallery in Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Season Opening (Friday, May 22, 6pm - close). Our second year!

I officially opened the gallery on May 2 already, please feel free to stop by anytime.  We are open for the season through Columbus day, October 12, so I hope to see you.  Our season opening celebration will be this coming Friday, May 22 from 6pm to closing time.  Last year was a blast, friends and family came from far away places, it was a very special evening.  I'm hoping for another spirited evening.  Please come and bring friends if you wish, all are welcome.  Perkins Cove has excellent restaurants, bars, coffee shop, ice cream, jewelers, boutiques, etc...make a night of it but definitely stop in for a drink, some art, friends and laughs.
I will be exhibiting some of my new oil paintings, along with new works from Donald Jurney, Alastair Dacey, Stan Moeller, Chris Volpe, Mikel Wintermantel, Dennis Sheehan, Beaman Cole and some other guest artist.  Also, be sure and pop in upstairs and welcome fellow artist, Don Gorvette and his Black Bear Gallery to Perkins Cove, it's newest addition.
We are located at 102 Perkins Cove Rd. in Ogunquit, Maine.  Next to the drawbridge, open daily for the season...hope to see you. Here is a link to our website:
www.toddbonitagallery.com 

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Ogunquit Summer School of Art (First class in new space!!)


Today was our first class in a new multi-purpose building we will be using for the season as our brick-and-mortar location for the Ogunquit Summer School of Art.  294 Shore rd. in Ogunquit.  It was the Shore Rd. Gallery for 42 years, ran by Elaine Stein.  I will use it to house two galleries this summer and also to host classes and art lectures.  The first floor space will be the new home of the Beth Ellis Gallery and the second floor will be used as a gallery for my larger paintings, a few other painters and art by deceased members of the Ogunquit Art Colony.  The space will maintain the old name of "Shore Rd. Gallery" with additional signage for Beth Ellis Gallery.  I will maintain my little gallery in Perkins Cove while Sharon Navigan (Beth's sister) will manage the space on Shore rd.

We officially get the keys on June 15, I hope to have an opening celebration and announcement sometime after that, that would be fun.  This pic was taken by Elaine Miller of our first class in the space.  Twelve students attended today, thats my mother lower left, she just won second prize for her oil in the Winthrop Art Associations annual juried event. 

Todays lecture was on value relationships, color as value and training our eyes to develop a sensitivity to truly seeing value shapes.

I'm standing with Dave Fleury, the owner of the building and a very generous man to allow us to have this class today, before we are officially moved in.  He has a super art spirit and is a painter in his own right.  It's energizing to be surrounded by good people, it leaves me with a very positive outlook for the coming season.
If you wish to join one of our classes or art workshops, go to our website: www.ogunquitartcolony.com
or call me to register at: (603) 819-9100
you can emil me too: tmbonita@gmail.com

Wednesday, May 06, 2015

Plein Air painting Tuesdays second season launched


Plein air Tuesday's second year has officially launched in Ogunquit and it was about as perfect a day as you could hope for to paint by the sea.  A dozen oil painters braved the 76 degree temps on the grounds of the Ogunquit museum of art and managed to get some work done despite the ever-so-delicate ocean breeze upon their sun kissed faces.  Heheee... It felt great to be with a group of committed artist again, trying to crack the codes to good painting.  
Carrying on the tradition of the summertime art school started by Charles Woodbury in 1899, Plein air Tuesdays are six week outdoor painting classes that take place in Ogunquit, Maine and York county.  There are four six week sessions from May through October, we meet every Tuesday morning at 9am and paint until 1pm.   Session 1 is filled but spaces are available in sessions 2, 3 and 4 if you wish to join us.  They do fill up so call or email to reserve a spot.  You can contact me at (603) 819-9100  or email me at tmbonita@gmail.com.
These classes and workshops are part of the Ogunquit Summer School of Art.  You can find information about Plein air Tuesdays and other oil painting offerings on our website, www.ogunquitartcolony.com.