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Peter Bowen
Watercolour Artist
As long as I can remember I have always enjoyed drawing and painting and was encouraged by my father to draw and learn about colour. At school by my art teacher John Stops RWA a member of the Royal Academy encouraged me to experiement with painting techniques. John was a great influence and insisted that I pursue graphic design as a career.
I studied art and design at the former West of England College of Art in Bristol and embarked on a career as a graphic designer. I had the good fortune to live and work in Canada for over 30 years alongside a wide range of illustrators and commercial artists including James McConnell a watercolour artist from Donegal.
As a professional watercolour artist, I live in the country near the beautiful cathedral city of Wells in Somerset. My unique style of painting architectural subjects with humorous situations has earned me an international reputation with much of my original work in private collections in Canada, the United States and Great Britain.
I have always tried to encourage people I meet to take up drawing and painting and often hear the same comment “I can’t draw to save my life” often this is followed by “but some day I would like to learn how”.
I like to show people some basic concepts such as drawing with the side of a pencil instead of the point, and looking at the negative shapes of a subject instead of the subject itself.
When I started receiving feedback that they were enjoying a new discovery within themselves, this prompted me to start thinking about the process of teaching others how to draw and paint.
To achieve this I started giving demonstrations and providing art classes after working all day as a graphic designer.
When I returned to live in England I discovered the vast resources and help that the Society for All Artists (SAA) can provide to artists from materials and instructional video programmes to contact with other artists and professionals. This has enabled me to provide a valuable resource tool to the participants of the art classes that I host.
My art class philosophy is to get participants to look at the elements of the scene and break it down into smaller parts as this tends to be a less daunting task than tackling the complete picture in one go.
Ideas for my own pictures often start as a collection of ideas of things that I have seen and I create a composition in my mind that I think would work.
I am a regular contributor to local art exhibitions and belong to several art associations and clubs in the Somerset area including the Clifton Arts Club in Bristol and the Clevedon Art Club. This provides me with the opportunity to meet other artists and to promote the resources that the SAA has to offer.
TOP TIP by Peter Bowen
Think of a composition for a new painting as a series of smaller elements, and decide how to arrange those elements into the picture to create excitement and contrast whether it be dark and light, big and small, or sharp and soft focus. Start sketching directly on to paper with a fine pen, letting the lines do the work and form the framework of the picture.
Shading and tone adds dimension to the framework of shapes. Colour elements follow and start the transition from drawing to painting.
Peter Bowen Art Classes in Somerset
Discovering Form and Function
A drawing course aimed at showing participants how to look at the form and structure of buildings and architecture in the community and compose interesting compositions. The art class will look at drawing using pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour painting techniques.
Creating The Scene
A watercolour painting course aimed at showing participants how to draw with pen and inkto create a line drawing and combining elements to create the picture. The art class will look at drawing using pencil, pen and ink, and watercolour painting techniques.
Learn to draw and paint
Creative expression and watercolour painting techniques including the use of broad strokes and abstract variations to create paintings with life and movement.
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NEW WATERCOLOUR PAINTINGS
Light House - Watercolour 2008
On a recent trip to Weymouth and Chesil Beach we stopped at Potland Bill and the lighthouse there is quite stunning. It was a lovely day with blue sky and fluffy white clouds. After some initial sketches this idea emerged and reveals my interpretation of the lighthouse at Portland.
Sports Line - Watercolour 2008
The idea for this painting came from seeing rugby shirts on a washing line near a railway viaduct. The thought was what would happen if one of the numbered shirts was the wrong way up on the line... would it be noticed?
Beach Huts - Watercolour 2008
I have always had a fascination for the sea and can remember early childhood memories of Clacton on Sea where my Grandmother had a guest house on Beach Road. When I visit the seaside I am always fascinated by the various styles and colours of beach huts, they always seem to be locked up and yet there are numerous signs that there are people about... but where are they? Maybe they've gone for lunch...
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