beinArt Interview with David Bowers
Jon Beinart – "What inspires you to create art David?"
David Bowers – "I'm inspired a variety of things. Once I saw an antique bird cage in an antique store and I immediately thought of a Victorian woman's head in a birdcage. This idea became my painting titled "The Hummingbird Trainer." Sometimes I'm influenced by an old master's painting or a photograph that I've seen in a magazine. I guess for all artists, we have a desire to depict our world on canvas, whether it's the real world or the imagined."
Jon – "Do you have a theme in mind before you start a painting or does it come to you as an image unfolds organically?"
David – "Both. Sometimes I come up with the title before I start the initial sketches, and other times, it's kind of a metamorphosis."
Jon – "Do you have any spiritual beliefs that play a role in your creativity? Do you source any of your ideas from mythology or religion?"
David – "Not really. Occasionally, I base an idea on mythology. I recently completed a painting titled "Leda and the Swan." The painting is a modern remake of Leonardo's painting with my own little twist."
Jon – "Who are some of your favorite artists and why? Has your work been influenced by a particular artist?"
David – "When I go to a great museum, I'm always drawn to the little Dutch paintings. I attribute this to the fact that my work is small and most of the Dutch paintings that I admire are also very minute in scale. The small scale, meticulous technique and their attention to detail is what I really respond to. It's really hard for me to pick just one. Although, if I had my pick of one artists' work I could own, it would be, Gerrit Dou. (1613-1675). Also, It's difficult for me to single out one artist that's influenced my work, because I've been inspired by so many."
Jon – "What are your thoughts on the contemporary art world? How receptive have both galleries and art critics been to your paintings? Have you ever been discouraged by a prejudice against traditional figurative painting?"
David – "It seems like those at the very top right now, that it's more about the hype than the quality of art they produce. The few galleries that I've approached have been very receptive. I think realism and figurative work will always have a place in the contemporary art market. No, not really, but I haven't really been in situation where I was exposed to such criticism."
Jon – "I read in your bio that before you focused on fine art you worked as an illustrator for many years and had a very successful career (being published on the cover of Time Magazine and winning numerous awards as well as other great achievements). As a fine artist have you been able to support yourself financially without having to do the odd illustration job? Are you much more fulfilled since you decided to focus on your own creative vision?"
David – "I've been very lucky. My fine art career is actually paying much better then when I was doing illustration and is ten times more rewarding! Although, I think it's more difficult being a fine artist because the ideas no longer come from a manuscript or the copy in a magazine. It would be easy I guess to set up still life's everyday, but when you do conceptual/fantasy work, it's hard not to be trite."
Jon – "That’s great David. It is rare that even a skilled and imaginative artist like yourself can support themselves with art alone. How important is it to you that you are remembered for your art?"
David – "Thanks, Jon! Like I said, I've been very very lucky. It's very important to me. I'll probably slip into oblivion when I die, but I hope my paintings live on in some capacity."
Jon – "Apart from art, what else is important to you?"
David – "First and foremost, my family and friends. My home is also very important. I like having a beautiful lawn and landscaping."
Jon – "Thank you for your time David. I have enjoyed getting to know the man behind the art. Do you have any upcoming exhibitions and/or publications you would like to share with our readers?"
David – "Your very welcome, Jon! I'm honored that you wanted to do this.
My book (available in June 2007) has been a dream of mine for some time now, so when the former director of the Ft. Pitt Museum approached me to do the book, I was stunned. The book is a cross section of my illustration work and fine art paintings to date.
I'm also going to have a little essay and six pages in New Art International magazine later this year.
I really lucked out and won first prize in the Direct Art magazine competition and I'm going to have the cover plus four pages inside, I think. Also, I had four paintings selected for Spectrum's Fantasy Art annual.
Group show at the Klaudia Marr Gallery in October – 668 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA.
Group show at the Roq La Rue Gallery in June – 2312 2nd Ave, Seattle WA 98121, USA.
Thank you again very much for doing this interview and for showing my work on your wonderful site!"
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