Presenting Artist Sarah Burkle Bohn, Inspired From Within

Every few weeks, Beanetics features local artists from the community and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. On Sunday, Sept. 19, the popular Annandale coffee shop featured artist Sarah Burkle Bohn.

Bohn's work was presented by "The Evolution of Art" by Jennifer Judelsohn, who created the venue in collaboration with Beanetics Coffee Roasters to support up and coming artists. Some Beanetics customers that were there on Sunday were pleased by the addition of an art show to the store's already welcoming atmoshphere. "It is fantastic that Beanetics is expanding their influence on the community and that they are involved in this cultural event," said Matthew Owen. "This adds to the respect I already have for them."

Bohn has been painting since 2004. The Beanetics exhibition is Bohn's first solo show, but she had plenty of support from friends and family last Sunday. Her husband, Nicolas Bohn, said Sarah did not expect to do art shows when she began.

"When she starts something, she gives it 100 percent. Her goal was to enjoy her time," said Nicolas. "If it made her happy and it was something that she loved to do of course I support her."

Sarah Burkle Bohn is a former press secretary in the financial industry who discovered the artist within after the birth of her first child. She used newspaper from the day her daughter was born as a medium and painted over it. She continued to find inspiration after the birth of her second child and found that painting made her happy. One day when her son was a year old and had outgrown his high chair, she was about to throw out the chair when it dawned on her that the table portion of the furniture piece could be useful as a palette.

While traveling to Paris with her husband, Bohn was inspired by the Parisian backdrop and culture. Bohn came away from a trip to Italy so astounded by the display of colors in that country that she continued to dream about it long after. She said the colors she saw, especially the ones reflecting off the waters really "got her creativity flowing". Painting on canvas became her outlet for the immense sensations of joy those colors brought her. 

Bohn said it takes her about a week to complete one painting. It took her approximately six weeks since the return from her trip to complete five paintings. The exhibition currently on display at Beanetics is titled "On the Italian Riviera". The first painting seen upon entering the coffee shop is "Portofino", a lovely painting of the wonderful port town of Portofino, Italy. It is rich in color. The second painting is "Windows in Paraggi", a piece full of light purple flowers hanging from windows. The third painting is "Rowboat", a single rowboat in the bluest sea.  One almost feels the water.  The fourth painting "La Dolce Vita (The Sweet Life)", gives the onlooker a colorful view of a narrow street in where a father and child holding hands are taking a stroll, not far there is an gelato shop with outdoor seating. The fifth painting is "Market in Santa Margherita". It is vibrant with colors of the various fruit display.

To inquire about purchasing the works of art displayed at Beanetics, contact Jennifer Judelsohn at 703-273-0485 or email her at Jennifer@soulworksstudio.com.