Mark Bowles

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Mark Bowles' Biography and Artist Statement

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and have painted all my life. My passion for interpreting what I saw brought me to my studies at the California College of Arts & Crafts. There I completed my studies with honors. In addition, I studied at the Institudio Allende in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It is this dedication and passion for my art that has allowed my work to grow and move forward and stay fresh. My work is presently collected and shown nationally.

Whether I am working with a still life, the human figure, or landscape, I am always fascinated by texture, form and color which I use in expressing how I feel about what I am seeing. I do not limit myself in what I paint or how I might interpret what I see. This freedom allows my work to move from representational to minimalist to abstraction. My work is ever changing, ever challenging and always a passionate delight. It is always my intention to address the canvas directly, honestly, and boldly. My heart is always pushing my work to find new language in expressing what I see and how I feel about it. The result therefore is not just an intellectual exercise for me, it is being involved in the “Now”……….always open for change and challenge ……..always evolving.

Mark Bowles, California, Acrylic on Canvas, 55" x 66"

Exploring color, composition, the quality and attitude of a line, as well as various materials will always fascinate and be tools for me. It is my goal to draw the viewer into my space and let them become involved in their own personal journey and discovery of the work. The ultimate reward for me is to communicate something new to the viewer even if for just a moment in time.

Painting is my commitment, my passion and my fulfillment.

I am honored by those who find inspiration from my work.

 EDUCATION

• 1976 – 1980 California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland CA
• Graduate Program Full Merit Scholarship
• 1974 Academy of Art, San Francisco, CA
• 1972 Institudio Allende, San Miguel De Allende, Mexico
• 1971 – 1976 California College of Arts and Crafts, Oakland CA
• Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with Honors in Painting
• Undergraduate Merit Scholarships

SELECTED SHOWS

• 2009 - University of the Pacific (UOP) Stockton, CA ( solo show)
• 2009 - Imagery Winery/Benziger Winery, Glen Ellen, CA (wine label)
• 2009 - Brazilian Court, Palm Beach, FL (group show/lecture)
• 2007 - Santa Lucia Preserve, Invitational En Plein Air, Carmel, CA
• 2007 - Mark Sublette Modern, Tucson, AZ (group show)
• 2007 - Arizona: A Millennium of Arizona Art,Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery, Tucson, AZ
• 2005 - Crocker Art Museum, Acquisitions Committee (Permanent Collection), Sacramento, CA
• Bakersfield Museum of Art, Collectors Gallery, Bakersfield CA
• Maynard Dixon, Utah, Artist in Residence
• Crocker-Kingsley 74th Exhibition (3rd Place), Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
• Brazilian Court, Palm Beach, Fl (solo show)
• Yosemite Museum, Yosemite National Park, CA (juried show)
• Boston Arts, Inc. Invitational Landscape Show, Boston, MA
• Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento, CA
• KVIE Art Auction, Sacramento, CA
• Yosemite Renaissance XVII, Yosemite Museum, CA
• Palm Springs Desert Museum, Artist Council 30th Annual Nat’l Juried Show, Palm Springs, CA
• Williams & Padden Architects, Granite Bay, CA (solo show)
• Sacramento Open Space Conservancy, Sacramento, CA
• KVIE Art Auction, Sacramento, CA (invitational)
• Friends of the River Group Show, Sacramento, CA (invitational)
• Artist Business Council, Sacramento, CA
• Arts and Business Council Sculpture Benefit, Sacramento, CA
• Arts and Business Council of Sacramento: Renaissance (invitational)
• Sacramento Open Space Conservancy, Sacramento, CA
• Sutter Club- “ New Work”, Sacramento, CA
• Art Expo, San Francisco, CA
• Palm Springs Desert Museum, Artist Council 30th Annual Nat’l Juried Show, Palm Springs, CA
• American Red Cross Showcase, Palm Beach, FL
• California College of Arts and Crafts Alumni Invitational, San Francisco, CA

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENTS-RESIDENCES

• 2011 - Artist of the Day, awarded by www.google.com
• Crocker-Kingsley, Lecture, Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, Ca
• Artist in Residence. Yosemite National Park, YNP, CA
• Artist in Residence, Maynard Dixons Home. Mt Carmel, Utah
• University of Pacific, Stockton, CA Lecture
• Fairfield Annual Juried Art Show, Fairfield, CA, Juror’s Award & City of Fairfield Purchase Award
• California State Fair, Jurors Award-Golden Bear Award, Sacramento, CA
• California State Fair 2001, Award of Excellence, Sacramento CA.
• California State Fair 2000, 2001, Award of Merit, Sacramento CA
• 1999 - California State Fair, Jurors Award-Golden Bear Award, Sacramento, CA
• Head Art Docent, Trajan Elementary School, Orangevale, CA
• Liaison to Trajan Elementary School for the Crocker Art Museum’s Art Ark
• Head Art Docent, Coleman Elementary School, Orangevale, CA
• Artists in Action Assembly Coordinator, San Juan Unified School District
• Represented California College of Arts and Crafts (C.C.A.C.) to United States Senate for funding of Union of Independent Colleges
• Permanent Slide Catalog of College C.C.A.C. (graduate) 1976-79’
• Permanent Slide Catalog of C.C.A.C. (undergraduate) 1976
• Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards - Desert Aids Project

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

• Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
• Mr. Daniel Boulud, Restaurateur, NY
• Brazilian Court, Palm Beach, FL
• City of Fairfield Crocker Art Museum, Permanent Collection, Sacramento, CA
• Denver Museum of Art, CO
• Evergreen Development Corporation, Sacramento, CA
• Aero Jet Hahn Corp
• Westfield Properties
• Mr. Carlos Pascual, US Ambassador for Mexico City

PUBLICATIONS

• 2008 Artweek magazine, preview article
• 2005-2008 Sacramento Bee “Critics Pick” Victoria Dalkey
• 2005 Sacramento Bee “Valley Landscape Show” reviewed by Victoria Dalkey
  
• 2005 Sacramento Bee “Crocker-Kingsley” reviewed by Victoria Dalkey
  
• 2005 Palm Beach Daily News, B.C. New Dimension, Art by Mark Bowles
• 2004 Architectural Digest-The Brazilian Court, Photo of Artwork
• 2002-2008 Art in America Artist Reference List
• 2002 Sacramento Magazine Guide to Artist
• 2000 Guide to the Arts-Cover Art and feature article
  
• 2000 Southwest Art magazine
• 1999 Sacramento Bee California Works
• 1997 Sacramento Bee Art World
• 1996 Palm Springs Life magazine

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Mark Bowles, Western Plains , Acrylic on Canvas, 60 " x 72 "