It’s very, very important to me to do something like this because I’ve been a housewife and a mother for too many years. I sought out to prove who I am as a person.”

Lynn Bellino

By Melissa Rosequist
Twitter: @mrosequist_

The walls within Paradise Valley’s Town Hall are now vibrant and bright, with the installation of resident Lynn Bellino’s art.

Ms. Bellino has been named this year’s Paradise Valley artist-in-residence. On Oct. 22, a private opening reception was hosted at Town Hall, with many of Ms. Bellino’s friends and family in attendance.

A Paradise Valley resident for 33 years, Ms. Bellino is a third generation artist, with her grandmother, mother and sister also being talented artists.

The Paradise Valley Arts Board chooses an artist annually to feature their work throughout Town Hall, 6401 E. Lincoln Drive. Last year, former Mayor Ed Lowry was the chosen artist, whose exhibit was made up of photography taken along the Colorado River around the Grand Canyon.

Ms. Bellino’s paintings are a stark difference from the natural photography --- with her realistic, eye-catching paintings using bright colors. Her artwork ranges from paintings of animals to people to natural elements.

Ms. Bellino has been creating art for as long as she can remember. She was an art and interior design major at Arizona State University when she met and married her husband Dan Bellino.

Although her interior design career ambitions were happily interrupted when they started a family, Ms. Bellino decided at the age of 34 to resume taking painting classes to discover the potential of her talent.

PV Arts Board Chair, Janie Russo, introduced Ms. Bellino at the opening reception.

“For those of you who don’t know her I did a little bit of snooping --- I asked some of her friends to give me some adjectives to describe Lynn,” Ms. Russo said. “They described Lynn as colorful, eclectic, whimsical, exuberant, outgoing, fun-loving, very thoughtful, friendly and caring, possessing a great sense of humor, and passionate for her family, friends and her art.”

Ms. Russo says when hearing those adjectives, she thought the same words described Ms. Bellino’s artwork as well.

“I think it describes her artwork --- these 38 paintings are definitely eclectic, there’s definitely whimsy in here,” Ms. Russo said. “She’s got portraits of adults, portraits of children, she’s got barn animals, domesticated animals, exotic flowers, antique cars. And for those of you who like still-lives, we’ve got beets and beer cans --- and tequila!”

Ms. Russo thanked Ms. Bellino for her time and effort, including missing her summer vacation to work on her art for Town Hall.

Ms. Bellino spoke briefly on the mic during the opening reception, noting that her arkwork speaks for her.

“This is a huge thing for me. It’s an honor you came to support me, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” Ms. Bellino said. “It’s very, very important to me to do something like this because I’ve been a housewife and a mother for too many years. I sought out to prove who I am as a person.”

As far as painting goes, Ms. Bellino says many members of her family are artists --- including her four children having their own artistic talents.

“My sister was living here at the time, she started painting with my mom. Now, I had four children --- twins who were brand new --- I hadn’t painted until I was in my 30s. I thought, if they can paint, I should be able to paint,” Ms. Bellino said, noting she started taking art classes at night. “It kind of worked out, and I got hooked.”

Today, with four grown children and five grandchildren, Ms. Bellino continues to avidly pursue her passion for painting in a realistic style. Depicting emotions with the use of color inspires her art. She primarily uses the medium of oil, but also enjoys painting with watercolor, ink, and acrylic.

After 30 years, she continues to enjoy taking studio art classes with other students. Ms. Bellino has successfully shown and sold her art at the Sonoran Arts League’s Hidden in the Hills Studio Tour.

To view Ms. Bellino’s work, stop by Paradise Valley Town Hall Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.