Community of Boling Springs

by Sonya Terpening

The community of Boling Springs in Craig County in the late 1800's was a community in the ranching country settled by Indians, blacks and whites who lived in harmony with no confrontations. The community no longer exists except that the heritage is well known. It was probably an area that Will Rogers visited many times during his days as a young ranch hand. The painting depicts these various ethnic groups enjoying school recess.

Community of Boling Springs by Sonya Terpening was dedicated on February 6, 2002. The commission was managed by the Oklahoma State Senate Historical Preservation Fund, Inc.

The painting is located inside the Oklahoma State Senate lounge on the fourth floor of the Oklahoma State Capitol and can be viewed daily from 8:30-5:30 when the Senate is not in session.

The Artist

A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Sonya Terpening is an award winning artist painting in transparent watercolor. She is noted for taking ordinary scenes and turning them into extraordinary paintings. Such was the case for her painting for the Senate Lounge. Her inspiration comes from the common people and activities that helped to make Oklahoma great.

Sonya's art has been shown in the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, the Philbrook Art Museum. the Thomas Gilcrease Museum, the Oklahoma Museum of Art, the C. M. Russell Museum and the Albuquerque Museum of Art. She is an invited artist to the Prix de West, Artist of America, American Art in Miniature, Masters of the American West and the Great American Artists shows. She painted the cover art for the Pawnee County History and Washington County History books. Sonya is a signature member of National Watercolor Society and Southwestern Watercolor Society. Articles about Sonya have been published in Southwest Art Magazine and Art of the West Magazine.