Heidi Bond’s Spirit Dogs

South Carolina painter Heidi Bond's recent show of her new works at Black Creek Arts Center are exquisite.  An article in SCNow.com by Ardie Arvidson gives insight into her process and intent…

Bond’s work, uniquely hers from subject
matter to its vivid colors, begins with hundreds of photographs taken
of her dog, Vesta. She said her Lab is the model and the muse for her
work.

Although she uses her dog as a model, Bond says the paintings are
not portraits of her dog. Bond captures the expressions and emotions of
the dog in each painting using a bright palette.

According to Bond, her pieces of art are not portraits but simply
spirits that “convey – a means to think about feelings shared by humans
and canines alike.”
“The colors I used are pure, simple and true,
as are the beasts they depict,” she said. “I like bright colors and am
inspired by Southwestern artists.”

“Heidi claims to leave as much out of the paintings as possible,“
BCAC Executive Director Bruce Douglas said. “It’s true her lines and
palette are minimal, but her work is full of expression and emotion. It
is a pleasure to display her work.“

Bond said that she does this so that the viewer can “pick up the thread and play along.”

“I play with dogs in my paintings as surely as I play with them with
balls and flying discs and knotted up old socks,” Bond wrote in her
artist statement.  (read full article)

She has just been added to my list of  favorite dog artists.  Her works are very special.