Local artist paints scenic beauty

Roy Bowers has been a landscape artist for 66 years, and it’s still not enough.

Now 77, the local resident is always saying “this is my last painting,” but he can never stop.

“It is rewarding for me when someone else experiences these same precious moments through my paintings,” said Bower, who was 11 when a teacher first sent him to a class at the Art Gallery of Ontario.

Bowers is standing beside one of his favorite painting
-“Cool Birches in Algonquin”.

Anyone attending his current showing of 49 pieces at the Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery on Confederation Drive might notice a lot of the work has been done in the same place – Algonquin Park.

Bowers believes each time he returns to that place, he sees something different to paint.

“My thoughts are on painting and enjoying the atmosphere, and not worrying about how I will get me next painting location and how I will get back,” he says.

From years of experiences, Bowers knows he was born with the talent to draw.

“Any talent that I have, I will be able to use in my work,” he says. “I prefer to be a landscape artist, because I like the atmosphere.

“Through my paintings, I hope to be able to pass on to future generations the feelings and moods in the wilderness and countryside scenes that we are so fortunate to enjoy today.”

Bowers worked in the advertising and graphic field for over 40 years. Now he is retired and enjoying life.

“[After I retired] I got a lot more time to paint. I go on trips a lot. Many, many extra times to paint,” he said.

Looking back to his career, Bowers wants to appreciate his mom the most.

“My mother told me one time when I was young, she said ‘you have a God-given talent, not many people will get it.’ I was making cards and doing cartoons at that time. I always remember that.

“So when people come to see my work and said the same thing to me, it brings back a lot of memories,” said Bowers, his eyes filling with tears.

“Capturing some of these special moments in time is a goal I have set for myself,” he said.

Bowers has his personal acrylic and watercolors works exhibition in the Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery from Nov 16 until 28. The studio opens from 10 a.m to 9 p.m Monday to Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m Thursday to Sunday.

Joy Hughes, a fiber arts artist, has been a volunteer for the Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery for 28 years.

Hughes said that Bower holds his arts exhibition every second year in Cedar Ridge Studio Gallery.

“Bowers also teaches here. He is a great artist and teacher. The Cedar Ridge Creative Centre has been a very successful art school. You can see by all the people taking classes here,” Hughes said.

About this article

By: Cindy Lu
Posted: Nov 29 2008 10:54 pm
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Filed under: News