Make Art: Toni Bowman, Artist at Home

Board member Toni Bowman shares her story of finding support for creating art through participating in classes at the Fine Arts Center as well as interacting with other artists.

I am a retired Nurse/educator. I am a dabbler. I have been driven to create since elementary school. My artistic endeavors took a backseat to a busy career and family life for a long time. I left a management position in 2003 and finally had more time for creativity. I started looking for art groups and classes to take. It was a wonderful surprise to connect with the FACNRV. I got back into art with a watercolor class taught by Lyndall Mason at the Fine Arts Center. I have been painting or printing ever since.  Art is a way to communicate not just what I see, but what I feel.

I have since joined the Blacksburg Regional Art Association and served as membership chair and program coordinator. I am now also a member of the board for the FACNRV.  I am still taking classes, showing and teaching classes.

I love watercolor and all watermedia. I enjoy printmaking and encaustics as well. I love taking art classes in almost any medium. It keeps the creative juices flowing.

I have currently been focused on Encaustics. I really enjoy the fluidity. I am challenged by the technique of putting the wax on paper or canvas without a drawing. It leads me to more abstract paintings than I usually paint in watercolor.

I hope to have more time to work and refine my skills and techniques with retirement and the stay at home order. Although I look forward to taking classes with other artists or working in open studio sessions with other artists when we get to open up again.

I find I must schedule a date and time for art to be effective working from home. I  also have set aside a work space specifically for art. I think we can all benefit by scheduling “me” time into our calendars.

John Ross