Barbara Benda

Thank you to Circle of Nations School staff of Wahpeton, ND, for hosting Beverly and me for an Artist in Residency through the ND Council on the Arts  on April 29th-May 3rd, 2024. Beverly and I spent 5 days teaching amazing, energized students from grades 4-8th. I taught my own “Birds in Art” curriculum to the students, focusing on the artistry of John James Audubon and teaching students how to sketch birds using contour line and basic forms. We painted the birds in watercolor after studying their colors and markings.  Each grade level had a different bird species including the Dark-Eyed Junco, Northern Cardinal, Downy Woodpecker, Black-Capped Chickadee, Blue Jay, and American Eagle.

.

Each day we enjoyed having lunch with the students in the cafeteria and they shared personal stories with us. It was a wonderful experience for us and we loved watching how quickly their skills progressed from day to day. We shared with them how to go “birding”, and how to identify birds.  With electronics and screens dominating the attention of many young people, we encouraged the students to get back in touch with their ancestors and nature by going outdoors, listening for bird songs,  and looking up to discover birds all around.They were amazed at how Audubon was able to create life-sized watercolors of 437 species of birds over the course of several years to create The Birds of America.

Circle of Nations was the first school where I taught in 1981, when it was called the Wahpeton Indian School. Beverly and I grew up in Wahpeton. It was a dream come true to return 41 years later and find that children still love to learn, children still love to draw and paint, and children are still excited to express themselves artistically with their own unique minds. We hope to return in the future because it truly was one of the best weeks of our lives. Thank you, students and staff for blessing our lives with your kindness and generosity.- Barbara and Beverly

You are invited to our Spring Sale and Open House!

Double Trouble Gallery and Mourning Dove Studio

Friday and Saturday, May 10-11th, 2024

10 am to 6pm

809 20th Street North, Moorhead, MN

Evalon’s Peony by Barbara Benda ©2023

Original watercolors, acrylics, mixed media paintings

with added bonus of succulents in vintage pots

just in time for Mother’s Day!

Bring the entire family!

Call 218-443-1126 if you have questions.

Looking back, looking ahead….there is a sweet balance of good memories and the excitement of new adventures.

Highlights of 2023:

• Jurying a Student Art Exhibit at the Red Door Art Gallery in  my hometown of Wahpeton, ND
• Plein-air painting grant through the Lake Region Arts Council and McKnight Foundation
• Teaching drawing and watercolor workshops, classes, and private lessons
• Artist in Residency with twin sister Beverly for the students of Hankinson Elementary School- introducing my new curriculum called Birds in Art with a focus on sketching and watercolor and highlighting the works of artist and conservationist John James Audubon
• Spring Art Sale and Studio Crawl events at my home-based Double Trouble Art Gallery/ Mourning Dove Studio in Moorhead
• Plein-air painting in northern Idaho
• Participating in several art exhibits, including the RRWS National Watermedia Exhibit held in Fargo, ND
• Creating 8 large watercolor paintings of different rodeo events as commissioned by a rodeo family in western ND
• Staff reunion at the first school where I taught: the Circle of Nations (formerly the Wahpeton Indian School).
• Having my Black Hills Bison image selected for use by With the Wind Winery to introduce a new dry red wine called Sacred Solitude.

Looking ahead 2024:

• Artist in Residency at Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton, ND : Birds in Art -Sketching and Watercolor with the Benda Twins, April 29th-May 3rd.
• Preparing new works of art for the Spring Art Sale, May 10-11 from 10am to 6pm.
• Return to northern Idaho for time with nephew Alex-play golf and paint the beauty there

The rest is in the hands of my CEO, Lord God Almighty, who directs my paths and connects me to amazing people along the way! All glory goes to Him, for all I do!

“I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me”. – Phillippians  4:13.