Laura Bonner

Mirrored

30 x 40"

Acrylic on Canvas

$1600

"Mirrored" exuberantly captures how downtown Richmond crowns the banks of the James River Park System. The foreground rocks and receding lines of the bridge keep the viewer intimately engaged as though standing on the Southside banks and pointed toward the lush park that lines the river.

Artist's Statement:

My paintings, with loose lines, bent rules, and bold color, are promises: “I will remember this moment with you.” I capture landmarks, icons, flora, historic events inspired by my native hometown of New Orleans and my adopted hometown of Richmond. I am entranced by the magic of life on the rivers that track past both cities.

My use of paint markers and scrawls are nods to graffiti tags and storybook illustration. I choose my favorite colors to work in—colors that speak of light or depth and the exuberance of being. Once I’ve sketched out basic objects to spark recognition, I wander lost in what happens with the paint itself—edges, contrast, texture, movement. A story unfolds.

The narrative of each painting ends with the same message: you should have been there, you should have seen this. You’d have marveled at the light. You would be humbled by the majesty of this bridge. You’d have loved the cool blue meditative moment, with the river rocks silvering in the light of a reluctantly receding day.