Nature, travel inspire FAC featured artist
Nature and travel experiences with her husband have inspired the art works of Bonnie Anders, a Choto resident.
Anders’ works are being showcased in Farragut Town Hall as Farragut Arts Council presents her as its Featured Artist for March.
“Each month, the work of an artist or group of artists is featured in specially-designed cases on the second floor of the Rotunda in the Town Hall at 11408 Municipal Center Drive,” said Sue Stuhl, Farragut Parks & Leisure Services director. The works will be on display from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Anders calls herself a self-taught artist.
“I was never artistic,” said Anders, a retired teacher. “I did stick figures for my students.”
She had taught language arts, English and accelerated reading first at Cedar Bluff Middle School for 23 years and then at West Valley Middle School for three years.
After Anders, a former Farragut resident, retired from teaching in 2003, she said she became depressed.
“I loved teaching,” she said. “When I knew I should retire,
it was so hard.” But she decided she was not going to give into depression.
“I knew some people who retire to paint. I decided to give it a try,” Anders said. “I started with one canvas, two brushes and six tubes of student paint.”
Her first painting was inspired by a bowl of vegetables on her kitchen counter.
“I spent three hours sketching,” she said. “I cut out the sketch and drew them all out on canvas.”
Anders discovered she loved painting. “It was so much fun,” she said.
Although Anders started painting with watercolors, she said 99 percent of her current work is in acrylic.
Since 2003, her work has evolved. Anders has done commissioned work for her family, friends and strangers and has donated her works to be bid at auctions benefiting cancer support and Habitat for Humanity.
Her main inspiration comes from travels with her husband, Richard Anders.
“We’ve been blessed to travel around,” Anders said. “Some
people buy things; we buy experiences.
For more information, contact Lauren Cox, lcox@townoffarragut.org or 865-966-7057, or visit townoffarragut.org/artsandculture.
