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David Bowman, owner of Bowman Art Gallery on Main Street in Snowflake seeks to make education of religion accessible to all ages with his art and illustrated books.
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Moving his family to Snowflake about 12 years ago, Bowman began illustrating books as a way to make religion accessible to children and, at the same time, began his series of one-word titled pastel drawings in his “Expressions of Christ” line. Coming from Gilbert, Bowman used to be a seminar teacher for an LDS church and now uses his degree in illustration to make kids books explaining stories found in the Bible or in the Book of Mormon and sells them in his gallery.
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“I used to teach seminary full-time, I love to teach. I kind of consider myself a teacher first and an artist second. The artwork is a means to teach a concept or principle or a truth or an idea. So, whether it’s a kids book or a picture of Jesus teaching about the love of Christ, you are teaching using art,” stated Bowman.
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In addition to the children’s books, Bowman has a series of pieces titled “Expressions of Christ” in which he uses models to create an authentic countenance. Not one to focus on backgrounds, Bowman’s art features pictures of Jesus Christ in varying emotional interactions with individuals. The paintings have one-word titles describing the feeling of the piece such as “Security,” “Joy,” “Guardian,” and “Peace.”
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“Although my artwork is LDS specific, it’s just Christian in general and I like to keep that identity that I’m a Christian artist. I started doing the Christ art in 2006-2007 and I really wanted to capture expressions, I love faces,” recalls Bowman.
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“I think Jesus, in artwork, is sometimes depicted as stoic, kind of removed and I think his personality would be much more engaged. I think he would be leaning into people, smiling, eyes dancing, easily laughing, enjoying people and loving people. I want to depict that in my art but sometimes it’s not time to laugh, it’s time for a tender hold. That’s why my line is called ‘Expressions in Christ’ and that’s my goal,” explained Bowman.
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Beginning in November, Bowman will be starting up a YouTube series where he will get to draw and teach. “It’s going to be going along with our weekly curriculum that our church gives us. I’ll be teaching the lessons that families learn at the church as I draw in the videos. It’s going to be pretty LDS specific. I’ll start putting up the new videos starting about November.” The YouTube series will be called Drawn In and will be on the David Bowman Art channel. To view or purchase any of his books or one of the “Expressions of Christ” pieces, you can visit his gallery at 113 N. Main St. in Snowflake.
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