“Evening in the Marsh” shown here painted by South Lake Tahoe artist Bonita Paulis has been selected as the Tahoe Arts and Mountain Culture (TAMC) collectible sticker #5.
Bonita’s romantic depiction of the Upper Truckee Marsh, the largest wetland habitat and watershed filtration system in the Lake Tahoe Basin, was painted last summer. Just steps away from the hustle and bustle of Highway 50, this special place represents our commitment to stewardship and is a welcome oasis for all of Lake Tahoe’s inhabitants.
Only 1,000 of the collectible stickers are available. Living in Lake Tahoe for more than 25 years, Bonita says the Upper Truckee Marsh is a favorite subject to paint year round especially during the evenings when it comes to life with birds, and transforms into an intense shade of alpenglow. The constant ebb and flow of wildlife and birds bring life to the marsh that is a daily miracle to witness, taking a lifetime to preserve. Bonita’s lovely painting of this life giving refuge helps us all connect to this special place we call home.
“The meadow wetland was lush with flowers and wildlife. The colors were pure Tahoe Sierra saturated in blues, purples, yellows and greens. The warm pine-scented air and the birdsong out there in the marsh was just lovely; calling me, once again.
This place is a favorite evening walk of mine, so close to home and the center of town, yet so wild in the middle of the city. I have seen bluebirds, pelicans, blue herons and every local variety of bird population frolicking in this magical marsh.” Bonita Paulis
This wetland sanctuary is a highly sensitive wildlife area, especially during the spring breeding season. It’s also the primary filtration system for the Upper Truckee River which drains the largest watershed in the basin. The marsh stores and collects nutrients and sediments from surface water run-off that can damage the lake. Physical changes to the river caused by humans for more than 150 years have increased sediment and nutrient loads discharging into Lake Tahoe, which contribute to the declining clarity of the lake as well as the reduction of habitat quality for plant, wildlife and fish species within the watershed. According to the California Tahoe Conservancy which is working to protect and restore the natural processes and functions of the river and wetland, 75% of all sensitive habitat in the basin reside in this one marsh making restoration critical. Dogs are only permitted in this biomass on leashes after August 1st.
The Pope and Taylor Creek marshes along Highway 89 are two other natural filters that provide a safe haven for wildlife, and a paradise for bird watchers. Combined, South Shore’s marshes are vital to the health and vitality of Lake Tahoe and its inhabitants, and are barometers of our stewardship values. Artists like Bonita who capture the beauty of this marsh and our natural resources in their paintings remind us of our collective promise to Keep Tahoe Blue.
About Bonita Paulis:
Bonita has lived in our mountain town for almost three decades and sees no end to the inspiration Lake Tahoe offers to her painting. She primarily works with soft pastels to capture the subtle mood of our Sierra Nevada landscapes, and lately started painting with acrylics. Her refined study of nature’s textures and skillful compositions accurately depict the changing quality of light cast upon Lake Tahoe, from the crisp light of early morning, to the crescendo of an evening alpenglow, to the saturated glow of autumn.
Bonita is a member of the Tahoe Art League in South Lake Tahoe, and is the regional representative of the Pastel Society of the West Coast, and a signature member of the Sierra Pastel Society.
With deep reverence for her subjects that feed her creative expression and drive her to explore the mountains almost daily, her impressionistic landscape paintings capture the intense beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Lake Tahoe, California Coast and Southwest Desert.
A prolific artist, Bonita has participated in several plein air events including the 1st annual Markleeville event held in June 2011 in which she painted “Early Spring, Hope Valley” shown here. She has been invited to paint in the North Tahoe Plein Air juried art shows and won an Honorable Mention for “Sierra Canyon” at the 2009 event. Her landscape paintings have also been included at the 2010 Los Gatos Plein Air Art Show and Auction, and the 2009 Santa Cruz Art League’s 79th annual Statewide Exhibition entitled “Irreplaceable Places by Contemporary California Landscape Painters”.
Most recently two of her paintings, “Sierra Afternoon” and “Sierra Summer Day,” are featured at the Pastels in Light show in Folsom, California through September 1, 2011.
Bonita’s landscape collections can be found at Lone Tree Gallery, 1598 Esmeralda in Minden, Nevada; Hanifin’s Art & Antiques 210 N. Carson Street Carson City, Nevada; Tahoe Art Connection at Ski Run Marina, South Lake Tahoe, and at the Markleeville Art Gallery in Markleeville, California.
Or you can view her paintings anytime at www.bonitapaulis.com or at her South Lake Tahoe studio by appointment. Please contact Bonita at bpaulis@yahoo.com or 530-544-3450.
Similar to the previous four TAMC collectible stickers which celebrate our mountain culture, “Evening in the Marsh” gives us a strong sense of place and artistically interprets our deep connection to this special place we call home. The original painting is still available!
Only 1,000 of the 4″x 4″ collectible stickers are available, which can be found throughout Lake Tahoe and Truckee listed below. Or, feel free to send a SASE to B2 Marketing Communications, Box 10224, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96158.
South Lake Tahoe:
- Sept 4th Sample the Sierra event
- Explore Tahoe
- Top Drawer – Crescent V Center
- Beads, Etc. – Crescent V Center
- 4 Seasons Soup & Salad
- Cork & More
- Gaia Licious
- Tahoe Mountain Soap – Farmer’s Market on Tuesdays
- Keep Tahoe Blue Store
- Tahoe Keys Deli
- Grass Roots Natural Foods
- Alpina Cafe
- Bona Fide Books, Meyers
North Lake Tahoe/Truckee:
- PDQ Market, West Shore
- Obexer’s Market, West Shore
- New Moon, Tahoe City
- Gear & Grind, Tahoe City
- North Tahoe Arts, Tahoe City
- Coffeebar, Truckee
- Riverside Studios, Truckee
- Dorinda’s Chocolates, Truckee
- Wild Cherries, Truckee
- Ann Nichols and Company, Crystal Bay
- Tahoe Arts & Gifts, Incline Village
- Artists at Lake Tahoe, Incline Village