Bonita Lowe has always been drawn to art. As a young child she watched her father draw and paint, and he inspired her artistic curiosity. Mostly self-taught, she has pursued studies in life-drawing, design and painting which expanded her knowledge greatly. Another person who influenced Bonita was AB Mauney Snow, the founder of Southern Arts Society (SASi). AB wanted to retire from working as a colorist in the textile industry at Dicey Mills and saw the potential in Bonita’s work. Bonita then took over for AB at Dicey and worked there for 20 years before retiring herself.

Now Bonita lives in Mount Holly where she works in her home studio. Her primary medium is graphite pencil, which she uses to create detailed, highly realistic drawings. Primarily focusing on portraits of her favorite people, she also has drawn animals, structures and even an airplane.

Bonita’s drawings are featured in an exhibit at Southern Arts Society in Kings Mountain now through April 22. It's All About the Music showcases many of Bonita’s favorites in the music industry. Among the musicians/singers portrayed in the exhibit are members of the Allman Brothers Band, Gregg Allman, Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, and Tom Petty to name a few. There are 24 portraits in the exhibit.

What draws Bonita to certain portraits? “First of all, my love for music, and my gratitude to the people who make it happen. I feel that every face tells its own unique story, and my goal in creating a portrait is to try to bring a little of that story to life. Some people have more stories to tell than others, and because of the lives they lead, musicians are among them.”