Life & Work with Bonnie Lambert of Burbank

Today we’d like to introduce you to Bonnie Lambert.

Hi Bonnie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Here’s a short version of my bio:

Bonnie Lambert was born in Wisconsin and lived in Philadelphia for years before moving to California. She was a theatre actress for almost 20 years before becoming a graphic designer. Bonnie Lambert studied at the Art Center in Pasadena and with artist Margaret Garcia, who became Bonnie’s mentor. Bonnie has been commissioned and collected, and exhibits in numerous galleries and museums in Southern California. She has taught oil painting at Plaza de la Raza (Lincoln Park) and LA Plaza De Cultura Y Artes (Downtown LA).

Bonnie Lambert is an expressionist oil painter inspired by the contrast between quiet neighborhoods and hectic commercial districts. Favorite subjects include wide-open countryside and rolling hills, rush hour traffic, and the last gasp of sun before nighttime. In her paintings you’ll usually see telephone lines and power towers slicing across the sky.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Amazingly, it has been a relatively smooth road. Many incredible synchronistic events rose up to welcome me and open doors. My biggest struggle has been to quiet my critical mind—practicing presence is a game-changer. I’m so thankful that I have become a full-time artist later in life (I was in my in my early 60s when I started to paint). I feel fearless, confident and open for change and inspiration. Obstacles and challenges are opportunities for growth.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
In late 2009, I was searching for my own personal artistic voice. I had taken night classes at The Art Center in Pasadena but, when I tried to paint on my own, all I could do was copy my teacher’s styles. For years I gave up oil painting. Then I heard of Margaret Garcia—a museum-collected Chicana artist who led weekly oil painting portrait workshops. I signed up! Margaret’s palette was high-key and joyous; her bush strokes emotional and immediate; her teaching style gentle and patient but persistent. She painted alongside us so we could experience the process first-hand. Most weeks, Margaret invited artists, collectors and curators to class and, while we worked, they discussed the challenges of the artist’s life. Almost immediately I felt a shift taking place. In the freedom and safety of this workshop I began hearing my own artist’s voice slowly start to awaken. My unique take on this passionate, vibrant style started to evolve. To this day, I continue to expand with every work I create.

After two years of workshop, Margaret gave me my first solo exhibit in her large studio. She introduced me to gallery- and museum-curators, and collectors. I started receiving invitations to exhibit in group and solo shows in Los Angeles and Southern California.

For years now I’ve been an urbanscape expressionist oil painter in love with intense, high-key color, deep contrast, and compelling stories reflected in quiet neighborhoods and hectic commercial districts. I’m known for my paintings of the magic hour, and my love of bright colors, power towers, telephone phone poles and lines. Urban stories!

Since that first solo show 14 years ago, I have participated in 85+ exhibitions, including solo exhibits at the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum (2017, Mesa, AZ), The City of Burbank Creative Arts Center Gallery (2016), ChimMaya Art Gallery (2016, Los Angeles), the Jean Deleage Art Gallery (2014, Los Angeles), and The Art Depot & the Fontana City Hall (2022, Fontana). Group exhibitions include The Santa Paula Art Museum, The Lines Gallery (Bergamot Station, Santa Monica), the TAG Gallery (LA Open Exhibition), 1315 Studios (Chelsea, NYC), Sacramento Fine Arts Center, and many more.

Now Margaret and I team-teach oil painting workshops at Plaza de la Raza in Northeast Los Angeles and at LA Plaza de Artes y Cultura in downtown Los Angeles. Workshops are also scheduled at The Cheech Museum and ESMOA! in Culver City.

I’m most proud of discovering—and embracing—my artist’s voice. I’m not concerned about being different—or even competing with—other artists. All the best of luck to anyone who follows this exciting, challenging path! I embrace and follow my unique voice, and that makes my paintings unique.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I accept commissions. Monoprint workshops with Margaret Garcia can be arranged.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bonnielambert.com
• Instagram: @bonnielambertartist
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bonnie.lambert