Bonnie Swart, KA, AAEA Assoc.
 Artist's Bio


    Born 1939 in Shreveport, LA.
    Her family later moved to Mill Valley, CA.  There, at an early age, her first art lessons began.  Ironically, her
temperamental French art instructor admonished her to paint anything but horses.
    She later attended UC Davis, then came a job as a stewardess for United Airlines.  She married Carter Swart in 1961 and raised three daughters and three horses on small acreage in southern California.  She also began a course of art studies that included classes at Ventura College and workshops with a number of accomplished artist/instructors, ie., Jan Kunz, William Herring, Donald Putman, and Judi Betts.
    Sharing an interest in thoroughbred racehorses with her writer-husband she helped him research articles at the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association library.  Here she met people in the industry and so began painting thoroughbreds and the racetrack scene.  Her work was collected by many prominent horsemen/women and was also sold through the Santa Anita Gift Shop.
    Bonnie's art can be found in the homes of many Arabian breeders and owners as well.  Her sister, Anne, raises Arabians and has provided Bonnie with both inspiration and an understanding of the breed.  Through the years Bonnie's paintings graced the covers of many popular Arabian horse magazines.
    She was a featured artist in the Fall 1989 edition of Equine Images.  Her work was selected for display and sale the Arabian Horse Trust's art auction in Scottsdale, AZ and has been exhibited at their museum in Westminster, CO.  She's in Who's Who in America 1998, is a signature member of the Knickerbocker Artists, and an associate member of the AAEA (American Academy of Equine Art).   Leanin' Tree greeting cards produced her first greeting card, Fantasia, which reached the market in January 1997.

NATIONAL SHOWS & COMPETITIONS

Women Artists of the West Invitational                                    Biloxi, MS   1998
North Valley Art League                                                          Redding, CA 1998
Pastel Society of New Mexico                                         Albuquerque. NM 1997
Oil Painters of America                                                               Taos, NM  1997
AAEA Members & Invitational Small Works Show             Louisville, KY 1997
Pastel Society of the West Coast                                           Roseville, CA  1997
Women Artists of the West  Int'l Exhibition                                Biloxi, MI  1997
Knickerbocker Artist's International Signature Classic        Scottsdale,  AZ 1997
Arabian Horse Trust Art Auction                                    Scottsdale,  AZ 1996-97
AAEA   Int'l Museum of the Horse                                        Louisville, KY 1996
Pastels, USA                                                                       Sacramento, CA 1996
Draft Horse Classic                                                          Grass Valley, CA 1996
Harness Tracks of America Art Auction                        Lexington, KY  1994&96
No. Valley Art League (Award of Excellence)                       Redding, CA  1996
Ceres Western Art Show                                                       Ceres, CA  1995-96
Pastel Society of the West Coast                                         Sacramento, CA 1995
LSU Animals in Art Show                                            Baton Rouge, LA 1995-96
Art at the Dog Show  National juried competition                    Wichita, KS  1995
AAEA Art shows  (3 shows)                                           Louisville, KY 1989-93
Arabian Jockey Club Art Auction                                  Delaware Park, DE 1991
Equine Research Benefit  Morvin Park                                  Leesburg, VA  1991
Women Artists of the West   Inaugural show                            Visalia, CA  1990
Arabian Horse Trust  museum exhibition                     Westminster, CO 1987-89

COLLECTIONS

Julie A. Wrigley, Vice Chair, Arabian Horse Trust                   Lake Geneva,  WI
Robert Sweeney, former general manager, CTBA                           Arcadia,    CA
Jack Klugman, actor                                                                            Malibu,  CA
Mr. & Mrs. Alec Courtelis                                                                Micanopy, FL
Mr. & Mrs. Alan Kirshner, Chairman, Arabian Horse Tr.              Glen Allen, VA
Barry Irwin                                                                                          Arcadia, CA
Judi Betts, AWS                                                                           Baton Rouge, LA
Ms. Joyce DeWitt, actress (Three's Company)                             Los Angeles, CA
Ventura College                                                                                    Ventura, CA

PUBLICATIONS

Arabian Horse Express (cover) December, 1996
Arabian Horse Express (cover) August, 1996
Arabian Visions  (cover) July/August, 1996
Homestretch, OTA  (cover) March, 1996
Arabian Visions  (cover) July, 1995
Crabbet Influence  (cover) April, 1993
Backstretch  (cover & article) April, 1992
Spur (Sporting Art Collectors Edition) July, 1991
Inside International  (cover) March, 1991
Arabian Horse Express (cover)  June, 1990
Arabian Visions  (cover) March, 1990
Inside International  (cover) January,1990
Equine Images  (a featured artist) Fall 1989

REPRESENTATION

Remington Park Gallery, Oklahoma City, OK
Words & Pictures, Brookings,  OR
Rickert Galleries, Newport,  OR


Home Page