Bonnie Marris

Bonnie Marris is from Ada, Michigan and has been published by Greenwich Workshop since 1985. She prefers painting with oils and she has taken an unusual path into art: she developed her talent by portraying animals "from the inside out." While studying in college, she illustrated several major books including a leading expert's mammalogy text containing hundreds of drawings.

This project attracted the attention of noted zoologist George Schaller who invited Bonnie to prepare the art posters that would support his world wide rare animal relief programs. Drawn to wild animals, as well as her beloved domestic ones, Bonnie has a particular interest in the predators: cats, bears, coyotes, wolves and foxes. She says, "They exist on so many levels. Their moods show in their eyes and we can learn so much from them."

The resonance on Bonnie's paintings was confirmed with a sellout of her work at the recent Gene Autry Museums Western and Wildlife Art Show.