Pete Bowie Introduction

The urge, or rather the need to create can lead to any of several different means of expression. For me early on it was sculpting with wood or occasionally stone. Over time, though, I became disenchanted with creating one of a kind pieces. The joy and satisfaction of finishing a piece quickly began to dissipate when that piece moved on to its new owner. Of course it is flattering when someone appreciates your work enough to want to own it, but when a one of a kind piece left my possession I usually experienced "seller's" remorse.

Bronze is different. I can ensure that a piece maintains its value by creating relatively low-number limited editions. I like the feel and the appearance and the permanency of bronze. And, I get to display several of my favorite pieces around the house for my own enjoyment and that of my family and friends.

I have always been captivated by the work of representational artists, whether two dimensional or three. To me it presents the ultimate challenge, I guess because the finished work invites the greatest criticism. A tuft of hair or a feather improperly placed instantly gives the critic’s eye a place to focus.

And yes, I’ve heard the comments of abstract and impressionistic artists who like to "Let the viewer finish the piece" in his or her own mind.

Nothing wrong with that, it’s just not who I am . . . yet. Perhaps as I gain more experience and confidence my style will loosen up a bit. We’ll see.

The vocation of artist is a second career for me, probably one I should have been pursuing all along. I was successfully self-employed for 35 years in a high stress occupation, always lured on by the bait of money. Such a mind set stifles creativity to a degree I’m only recently beginning to discover. In all those years I only occasionally produced a piece in wood or stone.

So, when I made the decision to be an artist (and that is exactly how it came about) I first wrote myself a contract, or mission statement if you will. That statement, printed in bold lettering, hangs right beside my sculpting bench and always will.

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And this works well for me. I don’t want to leave behind a closet full of substandard pieces that in retrospect might detract from my image as an artist. Just recently, for example, a bull elk that I worked on for three months is now much better reincarnated as a wolf, one of the three wolves in the piece titled "Cold Pursuit".