Painting with Purpose: Artist uses his talent and love for art and nature to inspire others
By: Megan L. Horst | Photos by: Ashlee Glen
As a born and raised Virginian, Anthony Bowes grew to love and appreciate the Blue Ridge Mountains and has drawn inspiration from the beauty of God’s creation.
“I’ve always enjoyed the outdoors and getting outside, so that plays a big part in my inspiration coming from the landscape,” Bowes said. He explained that when he looks at something, he sees it from the point of view of an artist.
“Ultimately, my goal is to represent the thing that I’m depicting while drawing attention to how I experience God’s natural world,” Bowes said. “It’s my hope to invite the viewer to pause and reflect on the landscape in a way that is both intimate while expansive, capturing the restless beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Bowes began his career as an artist at a young age. With the encouragement of his grandmother, who was an art teacher, Bowes first showcased his artwork at the age of seventeen. Shortly thereafter, he painted a portrait of a fallen State Trooper, gifting it to the trooper’s family.
“Their reaction to my painting changed my life forever,” Bowes recalled. “It was this painting, and how I saw it affect a family in such a positive way, that led me to truly believe in myself and my art.” This experience gave him a passion to bless families who have lost loved ones with paintings.
“I want to continue to give back in that way,” he said.
Since his career launched, Bowes has sold over 400 paintings. He has also won “Best Artist Under 30” for Plein Air Magazine, and one of his oil paintings won a second-place award at the 31st Annual Art Show of Moneta, Virginia.
Although he has been successful, he made a point to note that it has not always been an easy journey.
He desires to encourage other artists to continue pursuing their talent even when it is challenging or when you must work a side job to support yourself as an artist.
“Just because you’re doing something on the side doesn’t mean you are not an artist or any less of an artist,” Bowes said. “Just because things aren’t going the best now doesn’t mean God still doesn’t have a plan for you and the gifts that he has given you.”
Bowes said he never takes the gift the Lord has given him for granted.
He has a desire to use his talent to help others and has found ways to not only inspire people through his paintings, but also raise funds for various organizations. One of the charities he participated in was a series of auctions that benefited the Virginia Capital Trail Foundation and the Christian Wood Scholarship Fund.
“Originally, I tried to do all this stuff for myself in trying to find my identity,” Bowes said. “But now I just give glory to God for the gifts he has given to me and not take them for granted.”
