Bette Dionne's Art Reflects The Joy Of Life Reprinted With Permission From The Daily Journal By Gary Thomas The Daily Journal correspondent Oct. 30, 2008, 9:25 am "I had just finished another painting using the dining room table as my easel, and it hit me," said Dionne. "I remember thinking, 'I really am an artist.'" That's when Bette and her husband, Gene Dionne, chef at Dionne's Gallery Café in Momence, decided to build a room specifically designated as Bette's studio. Finding inspiration Now Bette often finds inspiration in her own backyard. Her studio overlooks the Kankakee River and a backyard garden, giving this lifelong Momence resident's artwork a genuine sense of place. "My family goes back six or seven generations here. This place feels like it is a part of me; it's in my genetic code," said Dionne. Although Bette creates her artwork in her home studio, finished pieces are displayed at the Gallery Café. The restaurant has been owned and operated by the Dionnes for 45 years. "People come here from all over for the food," Bette says of the restaurant. "I think people who love good food also tend to love good art." The atmosphere in the restaurant is conducive to viewing art. Patrons can sit and eat and enjoy the beautiful setting without feeling pressured to buy. Despite a low-key approach to sales, Bette's paintings are included in collections all over the United States. Buyers become friends and tell their friends, who in turn become collectors. "Having (a) painting go out there into someone's home is, to me, the ultimate thrill," said Dionne, who wants her work to enrich the lives of those who buy them. "My paintings," she said, "are about the joy of life." It's about discovery There is an intuitive nature to all of Bette's works. Not one to overthink the process, she trusts her instincts and prefers to let surroundings inspire her rather than dictate to her. She doesn't work from photographs, nor does she work outdoors. She prefers to combine the essence of her subjects with the inner vision of her own heart. "It is about discovery," Dionne said of her painting process. "It's exciting to discover what's going to happen on the canvas. And in the process, I discover a little about myself, too." Though Bette is not formally trained in art, she is an educated artist. She has spent considerable time studying the works of other artists -- both past and present -- and finds particular inspiration in the paintings of Claude Monet. Also well-versed in the contemporary art world, Bette stays informed by reading popular art magazines such as Art in America and by learning art theory. One of her favorite writers is John Dewey, an American philosopher and psychologist of the early to mid-1900s. A well-read copy of his "Art as Experience" sits on her living room coffee table. Bette says this theoretical and philosophical work gives her a deeper well to draw from as she creates her own works of art. Still, Bette believes that one of the best ways to learn about painting is to simply spend time painting. "You've got to take the time for your art. Grab the time from somewhere and just go!" she said. Bette understands that that is not always easy. Like most people, she spent much of her time doing the necessary things of life: raising a family, working, paying the bills. But when she finally got the opportunity to get serious about her art, she said, "This is my time, now." What lies ahead In keeping with that sentiment, the Dionnes have decided to retire from their restaurant at the end of December. The gallery, however, will remain open for exhibitions and by appointment. Bette would like to use the extra time to get together with other artists to develop and form a kind of community. "It is so nice to talk to others who share the same experiences of being an artist," she said. "It would be great if we could have a place to get together, even just a couple of times a year, to just talk about art and what we are doing in our work."