Bonnie Severien (Heerhugowaard, 1978) was a creative child and loved drawing and painting, ‘although that is probably an open door for an artist’, she notes. Although she always wanted to become an independent artist, she initially opted for the security of a teacher training course. After graduating, she worked happily for a few years as a teacher at an adult education course, but being an artist continued to have a strong attraction for her. She decided to take the plunge and was admitted to the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, where she graduated as an independent artist in 2007. A nomination for the Royal Award for Free Painting immediately put Bonnie in the spotlight, with the result that her final exam works were almost completely sold and organisations such as galleries and corporate collections immediately showed interest. In seven years, she was nominated for this prestigious award no less than five times, which accelerated her career. When asked why she thinks her work was received so enthusiastically, she answers with a laugh: ‘Because it’s good, maybe? My work speaks, I think that’s it.’
Thematics
After graduating, Bonnie began to weave nature and architecture into a collage-like style, experimenting with differences in scale. Since then, her work has always been rooted in the interaction between man and nature. “That combination can be quite a challenge,” she says. “The abstraction in architecture and the organic nature of nature are sometimes difficult to unite, but I like to take on that challenge.” This has resulted in a recognizable style that is widely appreciated and works exceptionally well in both private and business spaces. With her subdued color palette, Bonnie knows how to create a serene atmosphere that takes the viewer into a utopian fusion of nature and architecture.
Balance
Her background in Heerhugowaard, a typical growth municipality, has strongly influenced Bonnie’s artistic vision. She grew up in new housing estates where nature still had to take shape, while new buildings were constantly springing up around her. This environment, where nature and architectural structures have to find each other again and again, forms the basis for her artistic quest: how do you balance the human and the natural? This question resonates in her work: she builds her paintings from different layers and loose elements. She combines architectural icons and design classics with organic shapes and natural patterns.
Quest
The systematic approach to her work gives it a solid foundation, but there is always room for surprises and corrections. She is currently working on a painting for a major exhibition, but she is not yet satisfied with it. ‘The palm tree lacks depth, it is not worked through enough. So I am going to work on it again.’ She thinks that this thoroughness is very good for the work. The image becomes more solid and therefore gets more character. Sometimes it is really a search for what works and what does not work, she explains. ‘But if I think it is good, then it is good.’
Prospect
The collaboration with Business Art Service gives Bonnie the opportunity to carry out specific assignments in addition to her free work, something she gets a lot of satisfaction from. For example, she knows that at Business Art Service there are clients with an office without natural light and without a view. With that thought in mind, she created a series of paintings in which windows and vistas are central. In this way, she gives employees an artificial view of nature. Companies without windows benefit from a view, she explains, even if that view is not real. She emphasizes that looking at nature has a positive impact on our well-being. ‘Research shows that seeing an image of a tree has a calming effect on our brains, even if it is a painted version’, she says. ‘It helps to recharge the battery and offers a counterbalance to the daily hustle and bustle.’
Art in the office environment
For Bonnie, it is important that her work finds its way into the business environment. ‘I am convinced that good, lovingly made art does much more than contribute to the well-being of employees and customers. Organizations that invest in quality art actively contribute to their appreciation and image’, she explains. ‘Art promotes a good first impression and reflects the care a company has for its environment, just like a tasteful chair in the lobby or good coffee does.’
Discovery
Andy Warhol already said it: making money is art . Bonnie is convinced that commercial thinking and being an artist can go hand in hand. ‘I used to be very idealistic, but in the meantime I was just scraping by. Also from that stubborn idea that a real artist doesn’t have a cent to spare.’ But what is a real artist? And why are there so many artists who earn a lot of money? She discovered that there are no conditions or rules at all. That insight helped Bonnie to find a good balance between her talent and a business attitude. She explains: ‘you are a business as an artist; discovering that was a healthy process.’
Visibility
She emphasizes that the content of her work has not changed, but the way she presents it has. ‘My paintings have to be visible in order to be discovered. I have the urge to create, but I make art for people, not to make sense.’ Her collaborations with commercial companies have also made her work more accessible to a wider audience. It is a win-win situation, she explains: ‘my work gets more visibility and companies benefit from the added value that my art offers their product.’
Dreams
Bonnie’s creative vision has even reached international markets like the US and Dubai. “I never could have imagined that in my wildest dreams,” she says. “But when it does happen, you know you’re on the right track.” And while we’re on the subject of dreams, I ask her: if you could exhibit your art in a unique place, where would it be? She answers immediately: “The Guggenheim Museum in New York. Talk about architectural icons! And then walking down past my paintings… what better way to do it?”
Connect with art
The collaboration between Bonnie Severien and Business Art Service shows how art and business can complement each other. As a bridge builder between architecture and nature and between creativity and commercial insight, her work not only offers visual beauty, but also a deeper understanding of the relationship between people and their environment. This approach fits in well with Business Art Service’s objective to make art accessible to the business market. Together we create spaces that are not only inviting, but also contribute to the well-being of the people who live and work in them.