My father was a true artist. The world was his inspiration, and his surroundings became his canvas. When times were tough and traditional canvas wasn’t accessible, he painted on what was within reach…a pair of jeans, a kitchen tile, fabric, even an old cigar box cover. Nothing could stop the creative mind of this artist, and lack of resources never stood in the way of his brush, pen or marker.
My father’s painting routine was similar to many artists, meaning he would paint “whenever there’s time.”
Each artist has his or her own way of starting a piece of work. Some use still life, some need to go out and see it, and others develop it in their own way.
We all have places that inspire us. For some, it may be a park where we can sit on a bench and watch people, children, and dogs pass us by, or others may find solace near water at a lake or beach. Inspiration may be as simple as a room in our house where we feel most comfortable. For Phillip Bowman, one of his main sources of inspiration was Long Island.