We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bonnie Sprung. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bonnie below.
Alright, Bonnie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?
I was born with a paintbrush in my hand. So I’ve always known that I would be creative. But for a short instant I started college with a major in art but a minor in biology, thinking I may want to become a veterinarian. That changed when my speech teacher said a new drama program was starting and if I would be interested in painting on a large scale for theater. That’s when I changed my major to set design and a minor in graphics.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My award-winning fine art includes paintings, mixed media, and photography, and I have exhibited in numerous solo and group shows. My photography has been chosen and published in two books for United Arts of Central Florida Red Chair Project. I have work in galleries and in public and private collections. Besides creating fine art, I have done set design, scenic painting, make-up and stage management for over 300 shows locally and in New York. as a set designer, I’ve done work with small theatres with no set budget and that’s where I get creative with what I have in my shed. Since 1986 I own Uniquely Sprung Art and Photography Studio and Muscular Motion Gym. In 2000, I was introduced to public art and since I created designs for lizards, swans, butterflies, clowns, gators and geckos.
Some of my artworks include Watery Landscapes • Hidden Word Series Each painting has a word hidden within the trees and landscape. Being green, I transform CD and DVD’s into works of art, which I call DiskArt. Over the past four years I have been showing my art at Art Fairs. You can see my art at www.bonniesprung.com.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
When it comes to my fine art, there are lots of stages it takes to finally see the results. In a way those also can be said of the sets I design. First are the ideas I have; then to make doodles of what may work. With my fine art those ideas and finished art is my own and everyone who then sees the final results have their own opinion. It’s nice to hear all the positive remarks and super happy when the art sells. Designing a set, is a collaboration of what the director wants, what the script calls for and my creativity to make it all happen. It’s the reviews from the critics and the audience that always makes my heart sore. My fine art is forever and my sets are for a short time; only the photos of the sets are forever.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
What drives me to create my fine art are the crazy ideas that seem to pop into my head. My recent work is my DiskArt and I originally started doing these large portraits and it evolved into smaller pieces that that incorporates music genres and love. The goal is to keep showing at art fairs and galleries. On the other hand it’s people who keep me busy in the theater world. I’ve tried to move away from theater, only to keep getting pulled back in. Saying no to theater is not always easy. I love to design, build and paint sets that the actors then bring to life. I not only design sets, I also work for theatres that just need me as a scenic artist. So whether I’m painting a set for someone else or to please a director I’m working with, I still incorporate my style. Weaving both my fine art and theater can be a challenge at times. Theater is always on a timeline and creating my own fine art is placed in between. When I do decide on which art fairs to do, I then usually have to say no to some theater. But creating on a whole is what keeps my life full and fun.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.BonnieSprung.com
- Instagram: @bonniesprung
- Facebook: UniquelySprungArtStudio