“Exploring the Human Figure” featured as Asheville Gallery of Art’s December exhibit
December 1, 2017
Asheville Gallery of Art’s December show features the work of Elinor Bowman, whose watercolor interpretations of the human figure capture both spontaneity and grace of movement. The show runs December 1-31 during gallery hours, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. The gallery, located at 82 Patton Avenue in Asheville, across from Pritchard Park, will host a reception for the artist on Friday, December 1, from 5-8 p.m. Everyone is cordially invited to stop by.
“My favorite subject is people, primarily painting live models. No matter how many times I’ve painted a model, some other aspect shows up. And new models are a completely new experience,” says the artist. The paintings in this show were all painted at an open studio at the Swannanoa Art League in Black Mountain, NC. “Watercolor, black walnut ink, and Chinese ink are currently my favorite mediums. I love the spontaneity, with results in the painting which may not have been expected or predicted.”
Bowman shared how she works from life. “The paintings of clothed models were completed when the model maintained one pose (in twenty minute increments) for three hours, although I sometimes paint several paintings during the session. The nude model poses were usually short poses – five two-minute poses, two ten-minute poses, then twenty minute poses for the remainder of the session.”
Before taking up painting, Bowman worked with figures of another sort. She was a consulting actuary, working with hospitals and government employers who provided pension plans for their employees. “I began painting in my 50s, and love it. I did take a figure drawing class when I was younger, but never pursued art. After careers in business, painting is so enticing.”
Bowman’s work, as well as the paintings of the other 30 gallery members will be on display and for sale through the month of December. For further information about this show, you can contact Asheville Gallery of Art at (828) 251-5796, visit the gallery website at www.ashevillegallery-of-art.com, or go to the gallery Facebook page.