The Artist

     Painter John Gowan wields his brush with stunning precision. Within moments, vivid colors begin to convene as Gowan affectionately interprets the voluptuous landscape of Northern California.

     “The vibrant colors I use reflect the passion I feel as I experience the wilderness of California,” Gowan reveals. “Creating a painting is the culmination of my journey to find the view that inspires me. It’s this process of exploration that fuels my creative expression.”

     As a California native, Gowan has drawn inspiration from his natural surroundings since he was old enough to explore them. As a young boy, Gowan fused his innate love of the wilderness with his emerging passion for painting.

     Encouraged by his high school art teacher, Gowan entered the U.S. Congressional District Arts Competition, which awarded the burgeoning artist a first-place prize and a two-month exhibition at the Capitol. “Winning this award was the beginning for me,” Gowan muses. “It opened my eyes to the possibility of professional success.”

     Gowan has been studying fine art and illustration since 1984. Although his style continues to evolve, his motivations remain constant. Gowan explains, “Two things propel the creation of my art—personal habit and concern for the vanishing California wilderness.”

     “On a personal level,” Gowan continues, “I create art because I’ve always created art; it’s simply what I do. On a humanitarian level, I create art because I care deeply about preserving our vanishing wilderness. I hope that my work inspires others to take a more intimate look at this majestic landscape that surrounds us and encourage people to adopt a personal feeling of stewardship.”