Once known for delivering a fix of late-night jazz on our airwaves as a volunteer DJ, musician and artist Michael Bone has picked up his paintbrush again — this time to showcase his own art.
His exhibit, “Here All Along,” takes over the 1078 Gallery through mid-August, with an artist reception scheduled for Aug. 15.
“My philosophy with painting is that as long as the light is right, you can really make anything shine with the medium of paint,” Bone said.
“I try to fit the whole rainbow into each painting, not that I'm inventing it, but I sort of pull it out of what's actually there.”— Michael Bone, artist
Bone’s exhibiting a collection of recent works, predominantly landscapes, alongside pieces created over the past few years.
While he acknowledged the iconic landmarks of Chico, such as the water towers or Monkey Face, he also aimed to draw attention to less obvious subjects — elements in the area often overlooked in daily life or during outdoor activities.
“It's just trying to be honest with what I'm seeing, but also bring a vibrance to it that makes it feel a lot alive,” Bone said.
Bone’s artistic world relies heavily on color.
“I try to fit the whole rainbow into each painting, not that I'm inventing it, but I sort of pull it out of what's actually there,” Bone said.
He highlights his appreciation for Impressionism, particularly Claude Monet's ability to reveal the dynamic quality of natural light in landscapes, which he finds exhilarating to observe and emulate.
He’s always had an interest in painting, but Bone truly fell in love with it while teaching at the Seventh Street Centre for the Arts. While there he sought new material to teach his students. His interest peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I just had enough time where I wasn't having to be at work, and I wanted to make the most of it, so I just ended up making maybe a painting every day for a couple of years there,” Bone said.
“It's kind of like an old lady art style, but I'm just so fascinated with it, and I think hopefully I can share that passion with people that are a little bit closer to my age.”— Michael Bone, artist
Since his arrival in Chico in 2008 to attend Chico State, Bone has been an active participant in the local music scene. He’s developed solo projects, founded ventures such as Clouds on Strings, and performed on stage with artists including Lish Bills, Max Minardi and Pat Hull.
“I used to be more active in my own music, and I think visual art has satisfied that itch to a point where I don't feel as compelled to write my own music,” he said. “But I love playing music.”
Bone’s world is immersed in art. By day, he is a video editor at Metric Cosmetics Video Production. By night, he helps bring local artists’ musical dreams to life, playing everything from guitar to drums to keys to bass.
Now, as he gears up for the opening of his exhibit, the father of two faces his biggest pundits — his children.
“One of them is five, and she's really interested in art, and wants to be an artist herself, and looks at me and asks, ‘How do you do that?’ And it's pretty awesome,” Bone said. “My older daughter, who's nine, is my biggest critic. She'll, she'll say, ‘That doesn't look real, that doesn't look right.’ Like, if I get a thumbs up, I know it's something special.”
To hone his newfound skill, Bone became a member of a plein air painting club in Paradise. He noted that, in this outdoor painting group, he was the only male and also the only one in his age range.
“It's kind of like an old lady art style, but I'm just so fascinated with it, and I think hopefully I can share that passion with people that are a little bit closer to my age,” Bone said.
Bone views his artistic process as a an intellectual challenge that deeply appeals to him. A sort of captivating puzzle.
He hopes viewers will connect with his distinctive use of color and composition, and maybe even recognize the landscapes. On future hikes or walks, he imagines them spotting a scene and thinking of one of his paintings.
