The HEALING
POWER of ART Bonnie Ramsbottom ’93
Bonnie Padgett Ramsbottom ’93 discovered the artist within as part of her determination to overcome devastating odds. Although her journey to becoming an artist was somewhat circuitous, it all began with her love of beautiful art. After visiting several galleries in Northern California, Bonnie announced to husband Bill, “If I want to own art like this, I’ll just have to paint it myself!” She never dreamed that she would one day fulfill that prophecy. In 1988, she gave up her long professional career as vice president of Software Development in Atlanta to live in Macon full time. Bonnie enrolled in several art history courses at Wesleyan, under the tutelage of Dr. Libby Bailey. After class Bonnie would often find herself in the art studios watching students learning to draw and paint. After hours of quiet observations, she realized that she, too, could master those same techniques. With her characteristic determination, Bonnie convinced Wesleyan art professor Scott Duce to let her begin at the mid-level of training. Recognizing her talents and pleased with her abilities, Duce pushed Bonnie ahead. Not long afterward, chronic headaches and dizziness forced Bonnie to face the greatest challenge of her life. Her doctor diagnosed a very large meningioma in the left hemisphere of her brain, and her prognosis was terrifying. While the size of her tumor made the risks of surgery tremendous, Bonnie decided to proceed. The day before surgery, Bonnie went to her knees in prayer. “At this moment I decided that things were no longer in my hands. I surrendered myself to God and was freed of my fear. Suddenly everything became clear, and I was filled with a sense of calm that remained with me through my five surgeries. I actually believe this was a moment of divine intervention, and Bonnie Ramsbottom, Mystical Mood
it happened because I was willing to let go and leave my fate to a higher power.” Later, her surgeon admitted that he was amazed at her outcome and called Bonnie “his miracle.” As she recovered, Bonnie found that she usually reached for her paintbrush as therapy. She resumed art courses at Wesleyan, and, as part of her healing, she began to paint independently. The more she painted, the more she began to develop her own style, and her confidence as an artist grew as she honed her skills. During trips she and Bill took to Tuscany and the South of France, Bonnie was inspired by the rich colors she discovered in fields of lavender, vivid poppies in the meadows, the ever-changing colors of the mountains, and the sundrenched wheat fields. She made mental pictures of all that she saw and was filled with longing to capture these images and the feelings they evoked. Using intense colors and her own techniques of adding light, Bonnie perfected her skills until her paintings met her goals. Selected in 1999 as Macon’s Cherry Blossom Festival Fine Artist, Bonnie actually painted two pieces for the Festival. She created an original landscape scene of a sunlit path among blooming cherry trees and azaleas for the official print, and all 1,500 were sold by the time the Festival began. Bonnie also created a second design for a commemorative plate (also completely sold out) of Wesleyan College’s equestrian center. This design received a Gold Medal from the International Association of Festivals. By 2003, Bonnie had reached a milestone. Her work was displayed in galleries on
Amelia Island and in Macon, and she was featured in numerous magazine articles including in the prestigious American Artist. That same year, the tumor on Bonnie’s brain began to grow back and, although it was benign this time, the tumor required removal. The procedure was once again successful. As Bonnie’s brain healed, she experienced seizures, causing a major shift in what she wanted to paint. “I began seeing images of figures that were somewhat abstract and totally from my imagination.” To capture these images, Bonnie reached for her palette knife instead of a brush and began to apply paint to the canvas. She let the creative forces from within guide the knife – into abstract images, often of women with soul-searching eyes. Once again, her insatiable appetite for painting became her powerful healer. Recently, Bonnie resumed painting more realistic landscapes of places she has loved. According to one Florida art dealer, “I’m crazy about Bonnie’s ability to be versatile with her artwork – from landscapes with elaborate detail to the abstract. I’ve been in this industry for a long time and never have I seen an artist master such diversity.” Today, as Bonnie reflects on all that she has endured with her health, she says without regret, “I have a purpose in life, and each day I fulfill it with my love for others and in my paintings. The need for me to give myself to the canvas was similar to when I found myself trusting the hands of God. Painting for me is a very spiritual experience, and I do it for the fulfillment of my soul.” For more information on Bonnie and to view her artwork, go to www. bonnieramsbottom.com. Wesleyan Magazine Summer 2016