Jolie E. Bonnette was born in Southeast Texas in 1970. She has had an
interest in various creative activities from a very young age. She has been
making art and music as far back as she can remember. Arts, crafts and music
have always been a way to get through the many pitfalls of life for her. Her
work has always tended toward fantasy and mythology with touches of science
fiction and horror for a bit of flavor. She has also developed a style
similar to modern tribal tattoo designs, but with a definitive look
developed over many years with shapes and patterns which are not usually
seen in modern tribal works.
Ms. Bonnette has very little formal training in the arts, a few
classes taken in public school and college. She has worked across a variety
of media including pencil, inks, watercolor, acrylics, pastels digital art,
and clay sculpture. Many of her skills, particularly in digital media, are
self-taught. Currently, the majority of her work is done digitally due to
space constraints and neurological issues with her hands. She has worked on
a variety of projects from painting fantasy and superhero characters on the
side of a comic shop building to interior murals to portraits and
illustrations. In addition to artistic skills, Jolie plays hand drums and
bamboo flutes. She has also acted on the stage and spins poi for fun and
exercise.
Artist Quote: "I just do what
I do whether people like it or not. Everything eventually finds its audience
in the right time and place. Above all else, I do what I do because I have a
really good time doing it."
Credits
Due to brain damage suffered at age 22, some of the
dates below may not be exact. That information was simply lost
through the ordeal and not retrievable or Ms. Bonnette had trouble committing it to
memory since.
Awards
1st Place Black History Month Art Competition, Khofeldt Elementary School
1978
Popular Award for Favorite Print or Reproduction: Humor for
Fairy Cat
Millennicon 22, 2008
Numerous sci-fi/fantasy convention art shows, particularly Apollocon in Houston,
TX where Jolie was also on the Art Show crew, assisting in setting up the art
displays (2006 to 2010). Also showed digitally at Dragon*Con 2002 and had work
featured in the music/art performance in the Art Show that year. Other shows:
Necronomicon, FenCon.
"Learn to Fly"
featured and sold in silent charity auction for the Women's Blues Review in
Tampa Bay, FL.
2005
Participation in
Via Colori Houston street painting festival
2006, 2007, 2008, 2010
Commercial
Various interior murals and other artwork for private commissioners.
1985-1995
Painted giant mural with another artist on the side of a building.
Green's Comics
May 1990-Sept. 1990
Levi Fry Jr. High Chorus
Ms. Bonnette was technically rated as an Alto II, but had a range from bass to
low soprano. She was often placed in the center of the choir to ensure that
everyone stayed with their parts due to an uncanny ability to remember and
strongly sing every part of a song. She received medals in UIL competition
during this time.
1986
Chorus
Once Upon A Mattress
Texas City High School
Singing, dancing and background acting. Also painted scenery backdrops for the
production.
1992
Cobweb
A Midsummer Night's Dream
College of the Mainland Arena Theater
In the role of the lead fairy for Titania, Jolie also wrote the tune to which
the fairies
sang part of their lines and helped choreograph a dance to said tune. Also served
as make-up and hair assistant for fairy chorus and three lead fairy characters
(Puck, Titania and Oberon). Also assisted the costume designer a little bit with
accessorizing the costumes for the fairies.
1995-1996
Various guest performances with groups at the Texas
Renaissance Festival such as: Medumo, Scottish Rogues, belly dancing troupe,
etc.
1997
Drum performance
PBS/Act for 8 Telethon
While volunteering on the phones, Jolie and another drummer were an emergency
fill-in for the telethon when one of their acts got into an accident and was
unable to make it for their performance.
1999
Drum performance
Charity CD Recording/ Houston Pagan Pride Day
"Drumming in the Spirit of Harmony: Live in Harmony"
Played drums and flutes on the CD recording as well as performing during the
event on this project for Houston Pagan Pride.
2000
Drum/ Singing/ Flutes
Charity CD Recording/ Houston Pagan Pride Day
"Young Spirits of Old Faith"
A project coordinated between several young performers in the Houston Pagan
Community and their adult counterparts.
Drumming
Houston Witches Ball
Performance on stage with DreamTrybe
2003
Drums
Limited Ed. Charity CD Recording/ Houston Pagan Pride Day
"Awesome Drumming"
Recorded live on stage at Houston Pagan Pride Day 2003
Drums/Flutes
Houston Witches Ball
Performed with several other local talents before and between bands.
2004
Poi Spinning
Freedom Fest/ Center of Spirit Charity Event
Greeted guests with a display of poi spinning in front of Super Happy Fun
Land.
Drums/Flutes/Vocals
Houston Pagan Pride Day
Numerous appearances playing drums and flutes. Also sang back-up for Contraband
on one song and chanted for one drum set. Drumming recorded for next year's
charity CD.
Promo Appearance/ Drums/ Poi Spinning
Fox 26 Morning News
Several staff members of the Houston Witches Ball appeared in promotional spots
for the the Ball with Lannie Griffith.
Drums/Flutes
Houston Witches Ball/ Center of Spirit charity event
Jolie and three other drummers opened the show and also drummed on stage with DreamTrybe.
2005
Drums/Flutes
Houston Witches' Ball
Performed with Drum Dogs.
Drums/Flutes
Live Spots with Local Public Radio KPFT
Performed with Drum Dogs.
2006
Drums/Flutes with Ted Miller
Houston Pagan Pride Day
Drums
Houston Witches Ball
2007
Drums
Houston Pagan Pride Day
Drums
Houston Witches Ball
2008
Drums
Houston Pagan Pride Day
2009
Drums/Flutes/Rhythm toys
Houston Witches Ball: Movie Monster Mash
Various Dates
Guest Drumming
Various DreamTrybe shows in the Houston area
Jolie has been up on stage to drum with this fabulous band on numerous
occasions.
Publishing
1986-1990
Circle Network News
Pagan Publication
During this period Jolie had a few original recipes and articles published under
my pseudonym Aazari Cantharess in this Pagan periodical.
Various
Jolie also had several poems published in small circulation magazines during this
period. Nothing paying more than a couple of copies of the issue she was in.
1995-1996
Aazari's Web
Executive Editor
Ms. Bonnette ran this specialty Pagan periodical from front to back, managing the office
and talent, creating the layout and graphics for the magazine and printing it
all from home. She also arranged for distribution in local stores, online and by
mail and sold/traded advertising.
2003
Renderosity Magazine
April 2003 issue Ms. Bonnette's short story,"Cold Blue",
appeared in this issue. It won a contest, the grand prize of which was
publication. She was stunned that a story cobbled together in 45 minutes
from start to finish could win a contest.
