I want us to look at the artwork of Bonnie Atlan. Especially her Australian collection of ‘Tree Souls’. From the youngest of our school to those nearly finished, each section of this blog post is tailored just for you. There is a short story about the artist and five questions to answer. A full biography is found on Bonnie Atlan’s website.

Choose one of Bonnie Atlan’s paintings from her ‘Tree Souls’ collection, to draw.

There are four of her Tree Soul paintings on this page. Can you find them?

Why do you think the collection is called ‘Tree Souls’?

The full collection of her ‘Tree Souls’ paintings is in her ‘JahRoc Art Gallery‘, which is in Margaret River, Western Australia. Has anyone been to Margaret River in WA?

For Grades 3 – 4: Discovering Bonnie Atlan

Who is Bonnie Atlan?

Bonnie Atlan loved painting ever since she was very little. She grew up in a place with many lakes and parks. Bonnie liked to draw and paint things she saw around her.

Bonnie’s Big Adventures

Bonnie moved to big cities and even lived in France. There, she drew pictures of flowers, fruits, and busy markets. She also lived in California, where she painted beautiful gardens.

Special Trees in Australia

Now, Bonnie lives in Australia. She loves painting special tree pictures which she calls “Tree Souls.” These trees look wonderful with many colours. Bonnie makes the trees look happy and full of life, just like the trees we see at school.

Questions for Grades 3 – 4

1. What colours might Bonnie use to make her trees look special?
   Hint: Think about colours that make you think of beautiful things.
   
2. Why do you think Bonnie likes to paint trees?
   Hint: Think about what makes trees interesting or important.
   
3. Can you think of a time you felt happy looking at a tree?
   Hint: Maybe it was during a fun game or on a special day.
   
4. What would you paint if you were drawing a tree with feelings?
   Hint: Use colours and shapes to show feelings.
   
5. How do you think Bonnie feels when she paints?
   Hint: Think about how you feel when you are doing something you love.

For Grades 5 – 6: Bonnie Atlan’s Artistic Journey

Meet Bonnie Atlan

Bonnie Atlan is an artist who loved art from when she was a child. She grew up in a city full of nature. Bonnie studied art at university and worked in a shop painting on clothes.

Bonnie’s Journey

Bonnie lived in many places, including big cities in America and a beautiful country called France. In France, she drew lovely scenes from life around her. After that, she moved to California and started painting with oil paints, making pictures of gardens and houses.

Tree Souls of Australia

In Australia, Bonnie creates paintings called “Tree Souls.” These artworks show trees in bright and lively colours. Bonnie’s paintings make the trees look as if they have their own spirits and stories.

Questions for Grades 5 – 6

1. What do you think ‘Tree Souls’ means in Bonnie’s paintings?
   Hint: Think about what makes each tree special and unique, like it has its own personality.
   
2. Why do you think Bonnie moved to so many different places?
   Hint: Consider how seeing new places could give her new ideas for paintings.
   
3. How might living in different countries change what an artist decides to paint?
   Hint: Think about different things you might see in other countries that you don’t see at home.
   
4. Can you describe how a tree might show its spirit in a painting?
   Hint: Use colours, shapes, and lines to show how the tree feels.
   
5. What kind of story would you tell through a painting of a tree?
   Hint: Think about a story where a tree is important, like a tree house adventure or a tree giving shade on a hot day.

For Grades 7 – 8: Bonnie Atlan’s Nature Inspirations

Who Is Bonnie Atlan?

Bonnie Atlan has always been passionate about art. Growing up in Milwaukee, she was surrounded by inspiring nature. She pursued her love for art by studying graphic design and drawing.

Bonnie’s Artistic Adventures

Bonnie’s career took her to major cities like Chicago and New York, where she worked as a model. Eventually, she moved to France with her family, where she was inspired by the local scenery to create drawings and paintings. Later, in California, she painted vibrant scenes of gardens and homes.

Australian Inspirations

Since moving to Australia, Bonnie Atlan has been captivated by the local landscapes. Her “Tree Souls” series features paintings that portray trees as living beings with their own characters. These colourful and dynamic paintings reflect Bonnie’s connection to the Australian environment.

Questions for Grades 7 – 8

1. What inspires Bonnie Atlan to paint trees in Australia?
   Hint: Think about what is unique about the landscape and nature in Australia.
   
2. How do Bonnie’s travels influence her artwork?
   Hint: Each place has different things to see—like buildings, trees, or skies that might give new ideas.
   
3. Why might an artist like Bonnie choose to paint nature?
   Hint: Think about what might be appealing about nature for an artist.
   
4. What do you think makes the ‘Tree Souls’ series unique?
   Hint: Think about how she might use colours, styles, or emotions differently.
   
5. How would you depict the personality of a tree in a drawing?
   Hint: Think about how different shapes or features might make a tree look happy, sad, wise, or young.

For Grades 9 – 10: Understanding Bonnie Atlan’s Creative Process

Introducing Bonnie Atlan

Bonnie Atlan, an artist from Milwaukee, developed her artistic talents from a young age. She studied graphic art and life drawing, initially working in fashion and modelling. Her travels and life experiences greatly influenced her artistic style.

Global Influences on Her Art

After modelling in major American cities and living in France, Bonnie returned to her primary passion: painting. She drew inspiration from her environments, whether bustling markets in France or sunlit gardens in California, translating these scenes into vibrant artworks.

The ‘Tree Souls’ of Australia

In Australia, Bonnie’s work evolved to include a focus on the unique Australian flora. Her “Tree Souls” series depicts trees with personality and emotion, using bold colours and expressive brushstrokes. These artworks celebrate the spirit of Australian trees, encouraging viewers to appreciate the natural world more deeply.

Questions for Grades 9 – 10

1. How does Bonnie Atlan’s background in graphic design appear in her tree paintings?
   Hint: Graphic design involves planning and creating images using lines and colours carefully.
   
2. In what ways do you think Bonnie’s art changed after moving to Australia?
   Hint: Artists often use the colours and shapes they see around them in their work.
   
3. Why is it significant that Bonnie paints trees with emotions?
   Hint: When things in art look like they have feelings, it can make us feel a certain way too.
   
4. How could an artist’s choice of colours affect the mood of a painting?
   Hint: Different colours can make people feel different emotions.
   
5. If you were to create an artwork inspired by your local environment, what elements would you include and why?
   Hint: Think about what makes your place special. Are there certain buildings, trees, or animals you see every day?

Bringing Nature’s Stories to Life

Whether you’re just starting to doodle or you’re already sketching landscapes like a pro, Bonnie Atlan’s journey through art shows us how a love for nature and new experiences can transform into stunning paintings. Let her story inspire you to look at our own school’s trees and gardens and maybe start creating your own art!