Featured Artist John Bowen

Watercolorist John Bowen presents a stunning portfolio of landscapes that share a sense of place and adventure. Visit his website to see more.

 

 

As a young boy my Dad got me interested in art by letting me watch him work on his oil and pastel paintings, and his beautiful pencil drawings. l quickly tried to emulate.

 

 

Over the years I tried many different mediums. In high school l was introduced to watercolor painting by my art teacher. After working with the watercolors that school year, I found they had won me over as my medium of choice.

 

 

Working with watercolor paints as a commercial artist/illustrator has honed my particular style in fine art painting today. Detailed drawings from photos l have shot myself lead to paintings that will end up telling a story or creating a special mood. Again, influenced by my illustrator background.

 

 

I’m constantly striving for rugged textures along with soft passages of blended colors for special effects. Dramatic lights and shadows and complimentary colors for strong contrasts, all leading to capturing that “moment in time” that I’m after.

 

 

As my style evolved I began working with opaque watercolors, first with my commercial illustrations and then with my fine art paintings. I combined a very limited palette of opaque paints with my transparent watercolors.

 

 

Another important step in my painting process was the introduction of the “photo shoot.” Although I don’t consider myself a photographer, I learned a lot about composition and lighting while trying to capture subject matter for my paintings.

 

 

I was constantly evolving over the years; new paints and colors, techniques, even different papers and boards to work on. All this helped to keep my interest in watercolor painting peaked and excited.

 

 

I had many adventures over the years with my fine art. I worked the outdoor art festival circuit for 30 years, all over the eastern United States, capturing numerous awards along the way. I’ve had the good fortune to work with many historical societies and am still working with a few today. I have had a long association with Vizcaya House and Garden in Florida and the Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society as their “artist-in-residence.”

 

 

My paintings have been featured in airports, museums and libraries. I am a signature member of Gold Coast and Florida Watercolor Societies and recently achieved signature status with the American Society of Marine Artists. Lastly, being able to have worked in the creative art field has been my dream come true.

 

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