Jeffrey J. Bowers – The Plein Air Collection

Aug. 2 – Sept. 17, 2022

Southern Arts Society in Kings Mountain features local artist Jeffrey J. Bowers with a one-person show Jeffrey J. Bowers – The Plein Air Collection.  All the paintings shown in this exhibit are painted en plein air or in the open air on location. Bowers considers himself an artist in the Modern Impressionist style. Working in acrylics, he paints landscapes, cityscapes, still life, pets, buildings, and vehicles in and around the Piedmont area of western North Carolina. There are 36 paintings in this exhibit, with the majority featuring landscapes and city scenes in Gastonia, where Bowers lives. The public is invited to meet Mr. Bowers at a public reception Saturday August 13th from 6-8 pm. The show is on view now through September 17, 2022.
 
To keep his artistic skills sharp, Bowers paints outdoors, “in the open air” as often as possible. His dedication was rewarded recently when the 12th Annual PleinAir Salon Art Competition announced its monthly winners for their April Competition. The PleinAir Salon is a national online art competition hosted by PleinAir Magazine. Bowers was awarded the best Plein Air winner in the Acrylic Category for April with his painting titled, Late Summer Afternoon. This puts Bowers in the running, along with other monthly winners for the grand prize, to be announced in May 2023.
 
Even when working on location, most of Bowers’ paintings are completed in less than two hours. Smaller canvases, and water based acrylic paint call for fast paced brushwork. Bowers uses his commercial art training to accurately draw the foundation of the painting, then using as few brushstrokes and details as possible, he quickly captures the feeling and atmosphere of the scene. An accomplished artist, Bowers takes great satisfaction in mixing colors on his palette to match what nature presents in front of him. And while painting in the “impressionist” style concentrates on light and color over detail, locations and objects are easily recognizable to the viewer.
 
Jeffrey J Bowers – The Plein Air Collection is on view in the galleries of Southern Arts Society through September 17, and online at www.SouthernArtsSociety.org. Artwork in the exhibit is available for sale. You can also see more of Bowers artwork on his website https://jeffreyjbowers.com/.  Bowers is currently a member of the North Carolina Plein Air Painters and the Gaston County Art Guild.