PEACE.

 "Trespass" (30x22) oil on panel SOLD

For my last blog post of 2016 I'd like to wish everyone a healthy, prosperous & PEACEFUL New Year... This past year has been one of ups & downs, encouragement & chaos, and so I am choosing to look forward with optimism and opportunity to contribute where I can to make the world a better place; trust you will too, and hope to see you all in 2017!

"Trespass" (detail)

This allegorical painting, "Trespass" will be available at the L A Art Show thru Maxwell Alexander Gallery, opening January 12, 2017. 

CHINA!

 First painting after a 2.5 hour bus ride and a 15 hour plane flight! (10x12) oil on linen (collection of a stranger I met on the street)

I've just returned from a 10-Day painting trip to southern China -- what an experience! I traveled there with several well-known American & Chinese-American painters. We all stayed together at a hotel in Kaiping, and took daily van trips to out-lying villages and rivers to paint...

 View from bridge in the village of Chikan...

The weather was warm and humid up to the last couple of days when we had a little rain; not bad for November! It was quite smoggy though, with a permanent haze that hung near the horizon and made for beautiful sunrises!

House Boats (10x12) oil on linen

The population of course is huge, even in the smaller towns where we barely squeezed down tight streets filled with market shoppers...

 Residents in the village of Chikan...

It was cultural overload for sure, but pleasant and comfortable as our hosts and drivers made everything accessible and supplied our every need. With all the crowds, driving was chaotic and it was best to not watch as we headed down the 2-lane roads with 3 to 4 lanes of traffic! Cars and even scooters with whole families aboard were a common site...

 Painting in an abandoned village where most all of the residents have moved to the city for jobs, but maintain their village fields for gardening... 

I was mostly fascinated by the quaint house boats that dotted the riversides; a very distinct look to these homes on the water that are unfortunately slated to be done away with if the government has it's way with it's gentrification program...

 Night scene on the river in Kaiping (10x12) oil on linen

We were treated to many fabulous meals with local artists and our hosts from the Kaiping Art Museum. Every day was divided between eating, painting and eating again in various restaurant locales...

 A wonderful lunch and dinner was put on by the owner of an art school out in the countryside...

while we were the only white westerners in sight, the locals were always friendly and curious toward us; these people seem to smile all the time! 

 A visit to a local middle school and all the beautiful faces!

 We were thronged for autographs even though we we nobodies!

 "The Chicken Whisperer" (12x10) oil on linen

Like any place, there were both city dwellers and country locals that made up the population; and though poverty was present, they all seemed to be contented and busy just living life -- no cardboard signs at the off ramps or pan-handlers begging for pocket change, and tipping was a no-no...

 Announcement signage at the Kaiping Art Museum...

Our trip culminated with an evening show of our paintings at the Kaiping Art Museum where I sold one and donated another... gifts were presented to us from the Chinese artists and every one was interviewed by local newspapers and television!

House Boats at the Sunset (10x12) oil on linen

I am still processing all that I experienced there, but I do know I would go back again for sure; it was one of the best trips I've ever taken and one that I will treasure for a lifetime!

A typical scene in a rural village of southern China...

 Nightingale (12x16) oil on linen

A couple more headed to the Coors Western Exhibition & Sale, opening in Denver January 2017...

 

Terra Cotta Dancer (14x11) oil SOLD!

Out Door Colour Sketching...

 

 Yamhill Valley (8x10) oil on linen

Even though I enjoy studio painting, my greatest exercise & teacher is getting outside to paint from nature. When I do larger, "finished" landscape paintings, they are usually started outside (if not completed there) but never begun from photographs -- I only reference a photograph if  I've actually started the work from life (or from a smaller plein air sketch).  There are just too many pitfalls working entirely from a photograph; most of which is the convenience of time to overwork and "render" a subject to death...

Evening Trees (6x8) oil on linen

Although time can be a task master it keeps us on track, and I often find the outdoor paintings I rush to complete usually retain that fresh spontaneity I'm hoping for.  If I can accept the raw energy of imperfect brush strokes, but get at least the approximate value and colour right, then I'm doing okay... Of course it can be much more challenging than it sounds, but it sure is worth the effort when it works out.

Showcase at Maxwell Alexander Gallery

 Serenata (8x10) oil on panel SOLD

This week my Showcase feature opened at the Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, CA...here's the link:

http://www.maxwellalexandergallery.com/exhibition/eric-bowman-ray-roberts-small-works-showcase/

 Desert Sentinel (16x20) oil on panel SOLD

I have 5 new paintings in the show along with fellow painter, Ray Roberts. Two pieces sold before the show opened, so please stop by if you're in the L.A. area before they're gone!

 Where I Am Going, You Cannot Follow 

(12x12) oil on panel SOLD

 Morning Rider (12x16) oil on linen SOLD

You Look Lost, Gringo (16x20) oil on linen SOLD

Desert Perspective (12x16) oil on linen

None Shall Pass...

"None Shall Pass" (16x20) oil on linen SOLD

This painting is heading to a show in Santa Fe, NM via the Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, CA... Very excited to be continuing this series and working with Beau Alexander --

Back to Coors

The Skeptic (10x8) oil on linen SOLD!

I am honored and excited to be invited back to the Coors Western Art Exhibition & Sale, opening in Denver in January 2017... I did well there last time, selling 4 of my 5 paintings on opening night -- I may try to be there for the opener as well. This piece will be one of the small works I will show along with a couple of more, plus some larger pieces for the main show.

 Mt Carmel Moonrise (9x12) SOLD

Had a wonderful time at the Maynard Dixon Country Camp Out in southern Utah!  The weather was near 100 degrees every day, but the scenery was spectacular and the camaraderie with the other painters was great fun -- thank you Paul & Susan Bingham!

Butter Knife Bluffs (9x12) oil on linen

The organizers (Paul & Susan) treated us very well, and everyone produced fantastic works. I had been to Zion National Park years ago, but the rest of the area was completely new to me -- beautiful potential painting spots everywhere...

 Barracks Wash (12x16) SOLD

The Dixon grounds, including his homestead and studio were very inspiring, and was the location for several dinners and workshops... 

Bunking with Dixon (8x10) SOLD

I did this little "mockturn" (a nocturn scene painted during daylight) of the bunkhouse on the last day when we were to hand in the weeks paintings for the Wet Paint Sale; I left it on the car seat until someone suggested I put it in the show, and Susan had to have it! All in all, it was a great pleasure to be there for the week, and I hope to go back next year...

Maynard Dixon Country Camp Out 2016

Wrong Answer!

"Wrong Answer" (10x8) o/p SOLD!

 This piece, Wrong Answer will be in the Small Works show at the Maxwell Alexander Gallery in Culver City, CA next month. I took a poll on Facebook asking which of the two titles I had narrowed it down to (Wrong Answer, or Bad Company) fit best, and Wrong Answer won by a landslide. 

Although a few comments accused me of stereo-typing this decidedly fictitious painting, I must point out that there were indeed Mexican bandoleros and revolutionaries roaming the southwest who looked just like this back in the day... 

From about 1910 to 1920 revolts and raids were common throughout Mexico, incited by growing distrust and dissatisfaction with then president, Porfirio Diaz.  It eventually ended with the ousting of Diaz, and deaths of some of the key members of the revolution, including Pascual Orozco, Emiliano Zapata & Pancho Villa who looked much like the character in my painting.   

Even women fighters were not uncommon, like Margarita Neri who brandishing a machete, led a force of over 1,000 vowing to decapitate Diaz who eventually fled to France and died there in exile one hundred years ago.

Eugene, OR workshop

A couple of spots left for my 2-day Figure Workshop next weekend in Eugene, May 14 & 15, 2016 at Aragon Alpacas... 

$200 + $12 model fee. 

Please contact Victoria for details and registration: awake.art11@gmail.com

Unassuming.

Unassuming (30x24) oil on linen

Had the pleasure of working with this lovely model last week; a friend donated the kimono to my studio's costume wardrobe a while back, and it complimented this redhead quite nicely... 

(Initial lay-in session)

About 2 hours was enough to establish the drawing,  colour notes and block-in all the major shapes. From there, I could stay on track with the colour key and retain the broken patterns of brush strokes, keeping the overall spontaneity and freshness of the initial session. No need to fill in every square inch -- in fact that would have killed the energy I was after in what could have been a rather static pose.

Could have left it even more "undone", but I still get carried away...

Feature article in Plein Air magazine!

Plein Air magazine, May 2016

Thanks to Steve Doherty and Plein Air magazine for featuring me in the new May 2016 issue!

 

Smokin' Cowboy

(15x15) oil pastel on Canson paper

Enjoyed my time with fellow artist (and sometime art model) Timothy Young the other day... I had noticed him at a local weekly art gathering and made a mental note to someday approach him to see if he would model for me. Not knowing his name, I secretly referred to him as "Epic Bead Guy" until I got up the nerve to introduce myself -- what a genuine and pleasant guy he turned out to be; and not that I expected the contrary, but sometimes you never know with people who have a unique style and individuality.

He was very humble and accommodating in sitting for this portrait sketch...he even went as far as fashioning a dummy pipe to smoke as he is not a smoker in real life (and I didn't have a pipe on hand myself). After the session, we went out for some Chinese food and great conversation...

Thank you again, Tim for your time and graciousness to pose for me; hope to work with you again!

STUDIO SALE COMING...

Eric Jacobsen and myself are holding our first ever 2-Man Open Studio Sale! 

 

This is a Studio Sale proper, meaning we're cleaning out our studios and all works are for sale at deep discounted prices! Field sketches, figure studies, drawings and paintings; including those that have had their shot in a gallery or show but never sold -- all unframed and available for immediate cash and carry...

Who: Eric Bowman and Eric Jacobsen  

What: 600 to 700+ oil paintings available at studio prices!

When: Saturday April 2nd, 2016 from 10am to 3pm 

Where: Bowman Studio, 7311 SW Pine Street Tigard, OR 97223

      

Eric Jacobsen website: http://jacobsenstudio.com/

Eric Bowman website: http://ericbowman.com/

"Come Together!"

So I got the big idea to invite my friend and fab painter, Eric Jacobsen to join me in our first ever 2-Man Open Studio Sale! 

We've been putting in a hard days night, eight days a week preparing for this sale, and have between us at least 600 to 700 + paintings available! 

This is a Studio Sale proper, meaning we're cleaning out our studios and all works are for sale at deep discounted prices! Field sketches, figure studies, drawings and paintings; including those that have had their shot in a gallery or show but never sold -- all unframed and available for immediate cash and carry...

Who: Eric Bowman and Eric Jacobsen

What: 2-Man Open Studio Sale

When: Saturday April 2nd, 2016 from 10am to 3pm

Where: Bowman Studio, 7311 SW Pine Street Tigard, OR 97223

Why: Because all you need is love...and some great artwork!

Eric Jacobsen website: http://jacobsenstudio.com/
Eric Bowman website: http://ericbowman.com/

"IMPRESSION" show at Abend Gallery in Denver

 "Twilight's Brief Moment" (18x18) oil on linen

I am thrilled to have this painting as part of the international group show, "IMPRESSION" opening at the Abend Gallery on March 11th. Please click on link below for digital catalog preview -- 

https://issuu.com/gallery1261/docs/impressionissuu

(detail)

Shape, Value, Colour & Texture, Inc.

 Fire Brand (8x10) oil on linen

Of course Line and most importantly, Composition are part of the mix as well, but the 4 elements mentioned in the title are what these are about. The one above (Firebrand) was painted in the studio, and made up from images recorded at various locations in my sketchbook...

Gray Day (12x12) oil on linen

This one (Gray Day) was painted quickly on location on the central California coast with a limited palette. Although they are different subjects and painted under different conditions, both paintings are about shape, value, colour and texture...