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| Eric Bowman Note Bender 30.5 X 30.5 cm (12 X 12 in.) oil on canvas |
According to Eric Maisel, Ph.D., a renowned psychotherapist who specializes in helping creative people, artists have available to themselves two working states: Concentration, and Absorption. Concentration is a disciplined state which an artist must enter when they feel no inspiration, but still must push through to make themselves act nonetheless. Absorption, on the other hand, is an unconsciously-entered trance state during which the artist becomes so involved in their work, that they become oblivious to time and their surroundings.
In his new show, "Personal Space," on view at Bonner David Galleries until February 3rd, Oregon artist Eric Bowman appears to be exploring the latter state, Absorption, through a new series of paintings. His subjects are mainly drawn from the creative spectrum, whether they are singers, musicians, actors, dancers, bakers, or chefs, and are portrayed during that period in preparation or performance when they are lost to their own particular art. In some of the works, famous people, such as Frank Sinatra or Stan Getz, figure, but it is still the portrayal of the creative trance that pervades the group as a whole. Other works that seem at first to fall outside this description still focus on contemplative moments, and others, like The Marriage or What We Never Talk About, appear to be portraying a relationship affected by the dynamics of creativity - and how absorption by one partner can sometimes lead to estrangement.
"Personal Space" is now on view at Bonner David Galleries, located at 7040 East Main Street in Scottsdale, Arizona. The gallery is ope from 10:00 am until 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and from 10 am until 6:00 pm on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays. For more information, please contact them by phone at (480) 941-8500, or visit their website, where you can also see more paintings by the artist.
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| One More, Once 40.6 X 50.8 cm (16 X 20 in.) oil on linen |
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| Brubeck 30.5 X 30.5 cm (12 X 12 in.) oil on panel |
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| When Harlem Was 76.2 X 101.6 cm (30 X 40 in.) oil on canvas |
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| Trimmed in Blue 40.6 X 45.7 cm (16 X 18 in.) oil on canvas |
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| Teal Kimono 40.6 X 50.8 cm (16 X 20 in.) oil on panel |
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| Backstage 60.9 X 76.2 cm (24 X 30 in.) oil on canvas |
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| Ice Woman 40.6 X 50.8 cm (16 X 20 in.) oil on panel |
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| It Says Here 40.6 X 50.8 cm (16 X 20 in.) oil on panel |
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| Warming Up in Amber 76.2 X 101.6 cm (30 X 40 in.) oil on canvas |
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| Hot Pink and Olive 40.6 X 30.5 cm (16 X 12 in.) oil on canvas |
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Painting The Marriage Step-byStep
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| Girl Interrupted (study for The Marriage) 40.6 X 50.8 cm (16 X 20 in.) oil on linen |
In Girl Interrupted, Bowman worked out his color.
The drawing of the female figure resolved.
After gridding his drawing, Bowman transferred his image to his canvas.
Mapping out the tones using a wash of ultramarine blue and raw umber.
Using a palette that consisted of viridian green, transparent red earth, manganese blue, ultramarine blue, quinacridone red, alizarin crimson, cadmium red light, cadmium orange, cadmium yellow deep, cadmium yellow light, yellow ochre, naples yellow, and titanium white, Bowman set about blocking in the colors.
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| The Marriage 76.2 X 101.6 cm (30 X 40 in.) oil on canvas |
The finished piece: near the end of the painting, Bowman decided the wrought iron chair did not quite suit the image, and he replaced it with a more solid, wooden chair. This change was likely first worked out on his color study before he went ahead and made the significant alteration to this larger work.
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| What We Never Talk About (36 X 48 in.) oil on canvas |