RICH BOWMAN BALANCE
Solo Exhibition November 2015
118 Southwest Blvd Kansas City, MO 64108 816.527.0823 BlueGalleryOnline.com
RICH BOWMAN BALANCE
Opening Reception and Artist Talk Thursday, November 5th, 6–8 pm Artist’s talk begins at 7:00 pm First Friday, November 6th, 6–9 pm Exhibition runs through Saturday, November 30th, 2015
BALANCE Art imitates life. And for every action, there’s a reaction. Balance is something so fundamental. Without it, one has difficulty simply standing or moving with ease. A painting also requires balance to be successful. I think we all strive for balance in our everyday life. Especially in our current, fast paced, over-worked, over-stimulated world. Over the last year, the idea of life-balance has been in the forefront of my thoughts. I’ve consciously made it a focus, personally and spiritually. It was time to bring that same philosophy to my studio life. When I started this body of work, I chose the word “ balance” as my focus. A painting mantra, if you will. The show BALANCE comes on the heels of two bodies of work and is a reaction to them (Passages and New Territories). Both of these previous bodies of work focused on exploring and refining a new approach to my work. This newer painting approach is what I call my Emerging Works (see description below). Prior to that, I approached my work in a more traditional painting manner, which I refer to as my Signature Works (see description below). In the condensed description of these two: Emerging Works is an internally driven body of work, and Signature Works is more externally inspired. In the making of this new body of work, BALANCE, I felt the need and desire to bring the two disciplines together. Taking the things I’ve learned from both and applying them to the canvas. In a way, at least to me, this show is also a bit of a homecoming or return with a little retrospective sprinkled on top. I’ve lived in Kansas City for 43 years and have been successfully represented by Blue Gallery since early 2001. The thought of my hometown, the people, and the landscape that surrounds it gives me true pride to call this place home. Its richness has infused itself into my soul and my work and that is represented in this exhibition. Signature Works My signature work is the work that I’m most known for and is the base of my passion. This work is what has set the stage for my entry into the fine art world. Bold, colorful, big-sky oil paintings. I’ve always had a passion for being outdoors. My love of light and its powerful effects on me and the environment in which I live really are the driver in all these works. I’ve tried to expand my subject-matter several times. So far, I have always returned to nature, specifically landscapes. The flexibility of the subject-matter and the endless possibilities continue to intrigue my imagination. My signature work stretches reality through light, color, and design but always stays within reach of what it’s representing. Most of this work I reference photographs or at least starts off influenced by one or more photos. Emerging Works For me, being an artist means taking some risks and trying new ways of applying paint or approaching subject-matter. Call it what you like; experimentation, growth, changing it up, or just plain having fun. For me, it’s necessary in keeping my creative sanity. This newer approach is basically void of photographic reference. However, on occasion, I have used photos (for reference) to complete a painting. I quickly found that this way of painting is very interpretive and open-ended (and can be incredibly frustrating if you’re not open to all possibilities). One or two too many strokes and the painting is over-worked. Often these images are built off a few simple marks that are subconsciously made over a blocked-in horizon line or a previously scraped painting and built into a somewhat representational form. This process is so contradictory to my normal or traditional starting process. It has produced many new discoveries on the canvas. But the most profound, is its positive effect on my creative esteem and awareness. The work is looser, less descriptive, more expressive, and more sketch-like than my signature work.
About Blue Gallery In business for 15 years, Blue Gallery is a popular and respected fixture of Kansas City’s lively art scene. Its underlying philosophy reminds visitors of the owners Kelly and David Kuhn’s genuine commitment to the arts: they treat art and beauty as fundamental elements of life, and instill this mood into their gallery. But what has set Blue Gallery apart, is the way Kelly and David conduct their business behind the art. “We work with our artists with the same tenants as our collectors: integrity, passion, and obsession with quality in every decision we make,” says Kelly. “A philosophy that is the result of over 23 years working with professional artists and collectors. Over all, David and I are committed to providing an inspired and profound experience that is inclusive and transformative.” Established in 2000 at the center of Kansas City’s Crossroads Arts District, Blue Gallery represents 40+ emerging to established local, regional and nationally known artists, with works placed in private and public collections worldwide. Blue Gallery holds several exhibitions a year, as well as participates in First Fridays, held exclusively in the Crossroads Arts District monthly. Blue Gallery is considered one of the premier galleries in Kansas City having won numerous awards including KC Magazine’s Best Private Art Gallery in 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, and Ingram’s Magazine Bronze for Best Museum or Art Gallery in 2004, 2005, and 2007. And 435 Magazine’s Best Local Art Gallery in 2015.
Persuasive State oil on canvas 64” x 96” $11,500
Tempered Land oil on canvas 61.5” x 61.5” fr. $8600
Graceful Juncture oil on canvas 60” x 60” $8400
Blue River Fork oil on canvas 40” x 84” $8300
Evening Form oil on canvas 49.5” x 59.5” fr. $7000
Turning to Lavender oil on canvas 51.5” x 51.5” fr. $6900
Curable Ground oil on canvas 49.5” x 49.5” fr. $6500
Crystal Flats oil on canvas 33.5” x 61.5” fr. $5900
Fall’s Blink oil on canvas 39.5” x 53.5” fr. $5800
Twilight’s Last Blush oil on canvas 26” x 58” $5500
River Bend to Me oil on canvas 24” x 60” $5400
Eagle Point oil on canvas 24” x 60” $5400
Green Way oil on canvas 29” x 49” fr. $5200
Lifting oil on canvas 30” x 48” $5000
Moment of Silence oil on canvas 45.5” x 38.5” fr. $4900
One Last Note oil on canvas 39.5” x 37.5” fr. $4600
Clearing Green oil on canvas 25” x 41” fr. $4200
Summer’s Height oil on canvas 29” x 31” fr. $4100
White Top oil on canvas 19” x 31” fr. $2900
Brilliant End oil on canvas 17” x 32” fr. $2800
Sun Burst oil on canvas 21.5” x 21.5” fr. $2500
Look West oil on canvas 18” x 26” fr. $2500
West of Home oil on canvas 14.25” x 26.25” fr. $2400
Mid Winter oil on canvas 14.25” x 26.25” fr. $2400
Burn Through III oil on canvas 14.25” x 26.25” fr. $2400
Hidden in Plain Site oil on panel 10” x 22” $2200
Green/Red oil on canvas 12.5” x 18.5” fr. $2000
Purple Cove oil on canvas 15.5” x 12.5” fr. $1700
Purple Creek oil on canvas 15.5” x 12.5” fr. $1700
Purple Turn oil on canvas 15.5” x 12.5” fr. $1700
Long Day to Red oil on canvas 11” x 17” $1650
Twilight’s Retreat oil on canvas 10” x 16” $1500
Green Way 2 oil on canvas 11” x 14” $1500
Blue One oil on canvas 9.25” x 15.25” fr. $1500
Blue Two oil on canvas 9.25” x 15.25” fr. $1500
Western Blue oil on canvas 8” x 14” $1300
Silent Blue oil on canvas 8” x 14” $1300
The Lake I oil on canvas 11.25” x 9.25” fr. $1000
The Lake II oil on canvas 11.25” x 9.25” fr. $1000
Lite from Above oil on canvas on panel 10” x 10” fr. $1400
Wintry Mix oil on panel 10” x 10” $1200
Light/Easy Day oil on canvas on panel 9” x 12” $950
Light/Easy oil on canvas 8” x 10” $750
Pink Blink oil on canvas 8” x 10” $750
Evening Soon oil on canvas on panel 9” x 12” $950
Bright Point oil on canvas 8” x 10” $750
Pink Cove oil on canvas 10” x 8” $750
Semi Breaking oil on canvas on panel 8” x 8” $600
Tracking oil on canvas 7.75” x 7.75” fr. $500
Super Orangish oil on canvas on panel 8” x 8” $600
Little Light II oil on canvas 8.75” x 6.75” fr. $500
Orange/Grey Set oil on canvas on panel 6” x 6” $450
Two Turns, Blue oil on canvas on panel 5” x 5” $300
Snow Day, Lake oil on canvas on panel 5” x 5” $300
Snowy Day oil on canvas on pan 5” x 5” $300
Greener Way oil on canvas on panel 5” x 5” $300
Pink Through oil on canvas on pan 5” x 5” $300
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Purple-Yes! oil on canvas on panel 5” x 5” $300
Top of the Morning oil on canvas on panel 5” x 5” $300
Rich Bowman
Curriculum Vitae
Artist Bio:
by Sara Ford There’s something about the sky: something that prompts the spirit to soar especially during those magical moments when the sun retreats; it’s work complete. Painter Rich Bowman’s abstracted representational works are compelling. The broad sweep of the sky, alive with color and intriguing clouds towering above the landscape, evokes intense emotions in those seeking renewal. Capturing the moods of the Midwestern sky is nothing short of a spiritual retreat for Bowman. “These familiar places calm my soul. The simple act of translating this subject matter grounds me,” he explains. “In truth it’s my meditation, my escape from life’s everyday pressures. When I paint, time is erased and my mind is eased by the boundless skies and transitioning hues.” Whether his paintings are serene or ominous - the artist says the emotion depends on his mood - Bowman’s skyscapes provide an emotional oasis. The painter’s dusky sunsets, rich in texture and blended color, are captivating because of their intensity. “That’s the time of day that really inspires me,” Bowman says. The artist was born at sunset, a biographical fact that could be mere coincidence. On the other hand, Bowman’s time of birth could have been a hint of what was to come. His environment certainly influenced his art. Not long after he was born in 1969 in Sherman, Texas, Bowman’s family moved to Missouri. Surrounded by thunderclouds, rolling fields, gentle hills and flat river plains, the artist grew to love the quixotic nature of the fluid environment. “The sky is always changing colors and shapes, “Bowman says. “Every time you turn your head there is an experience to see.” Bowman went on to study art in high school. He also enrolled in figurative drawing classes offered at the Kansas City Art Institute. Because of that experience, the faculty of the prestigious institute encouraged Bowman to apply for a scholarship. Before he enrolled as a college student, Bowman debated whether to become an architect or an artist. “I decided that art was the more natural thing for me,” he says, citing another example of following the dictates of his heart. Bowman eventually earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree there. After graduation he went to work for Hallmark as an illustrator. Over time, he advanced within the company until he became a design manager. During that period Bowman also took on additional jobs, working as a freelance illustrator. “I did a lot of jobs for well known companies. The way I worked was slow and laborious,” he says. “It just burned me out.” Bowman decided to quit freelancing and to explore fine art. In the beginning he wasn’t certain what to paint. “I started going out in the country. Sunsets seemed to be a time of day when you could relax,” Bowman explains. “They became kind of my meditation.” As his work evolved, he learned to rely on memory and intuition. “My paintings are created from everyday images stored over a lifetime in my subconscious,” Bowman says. “They are not about the details of a specific place. I try to convey a feeling of time and atmosphere through texture, design and color.” As a result, the artist experienced an exhilarating freedom and a sense of peace.
Born:
4/15/69 6:20 p.m. (sunset) Sherman, TX. Currently lives in Kansas City, Mo.
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Kansas City Art Institute, May 91
Exhibition:
2015 Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2015 Small painting exhibition, Howard Mandville Gallery, Kirkville, WA 2014 Group show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2014 Group exhibition, Craighed Green Gallery, Dallas, TX 2013 Two person show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City MO 2012 Group show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2012 Group exhibition, Craighead Green, Dallas TX 2011 Two man exhibition, Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2010 Solo Exhibition, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2009 Group show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2009 Group show, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX 2009 Group show, Bonner David Galleries. Scottsdale, AZ 2008 One man show, Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2008 One man show, Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2008 Group show, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX 2007 Two man show, Meyer Gallery, Park City, Utah 2007 Two man show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Seattle, WA 2007 Best of the Best, Group show, Bonner David Galleries. Scottsdale, AZ 2006 One man show, The Blue Gallery Kansas City, MO 2006 One Man show, Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2006 Group show, Bonner David Galleries. Scottsdale, AZ 2006 Group show, Love of the Land, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2006 One man exhibition, The Meyers Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2005 Emerging Artist exhibition, Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2005 One man exhibition, The Meyers Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2005 One man show, Meyer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM 2004 One man show, The Blue Gallery Kansas City, MO 2004 Two man show at The Meyer Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ 2003 Two man show at The Blue Gallery, Kansas City, MO 2000 E-4 Corporate Art Exhibition, Overland Park, KS 2000 Crit Group Show, Shiraz Gallery, Kansas City, MO 1999 Crit Group Show, Shiraz Gallery, Kansas City, MO 1999 Solo Show, Shiraz Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Permanent Installations:
Kansas City power/Light, KC, MO Mediflex, Kansas City, MO Akin, Gump LLP, Dallas TX Weil, Gotshal & Manges. New York, NY Shook, Hardy and Bacon LLP, Kansas City, MO Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ Overland Park Community Center, Overland Park, KS Spine & Specialty Hospital-Shawnee Mission, KS The Intercontinental Hotel-Kansas City, MO Enturia, Inc.-Leawood, KS National Center for Drug Free Sports-Kansas City, MO Husch Blackwell Sanders Law Firm-Kansas City, MO Schlotzky’s Inc., Austin TX. Aurther Bryant’s Restaurant, Kansas City MO Waddell & Reed Financial, Inc, Overland Park, KS
Awards:
Voted 2005 best visual artist in Kansas City by KC Magazine Society of Illustrators 35, 1994 Society of Illustrators 34, 1993 Kansas City Art Directors Association, Gold medal, painting,1992 Society of Illustrators Student 33, 1992
Publications:
Artist & Illustrators Magazine, UK, July 2011, Article on The Harmony of Analogy. Cover of Pitch Weekly, First Fridays Magazine Nov. 2010 KC Magazine Nov. 2010 Landscape Painting: Essential Concepts and Techniques for Plein Air and Studio Practice, Watson-Guptill/Random House, Nov 09 Spaces Kansas City, Aug 09 American Art Collectors 45, July 08 Spaces Kansas City, March 08 Southern Living magazine, Feb 08 Design NJ magazine, New Jersey, June/July 07 Winter Count, Poems by Connie Dover (cover art) –March 07 American Art Collectors, Collectors preview for up coming show -March 07 American Art Collectors, Featured Artist -May 06 KC Magazine, Best visual artist in KC- Sept. 05 Southwest Art magazine cover - Apr 04 Southwest Art magazine - Oct 01 Kansas City Home magazine - Mar 00 Southwest Airlines magazine - Jun 97 United Airlines magazine - Feb 97 Kansas City Star - Nov 96 Mondavi wines - Aug 96 Society of Illustrators - 94, 93, 92
118 Southwest Blvd
Kansas City, MO 64108
816.527.0823
BlueGalleryOnline.com