About

My work is about the quiet beauty of everyday moments.

Whitnie Bowden with her family

Bio

I am a visual artist. My work spans landscape, still life, and portraiture. It explores themes such as spirituality, nature, and color. My primary medium is oil paint on canvas. My work is characterized by its mixture of bold color and soft style.

Statement

My work is about the quiet beauty of everyday moments. When I paint, I choose subjects that invite a closer look. I am drawn to the small simple moments in our lives that often go unnoticed: a person absorbed in an ordinary activity, the quiet observation of a beautiful field, or even common objects peacefully arranged.

Regardless of my subject, I try to convey a feeling of stillness. I like to capture small moments of connection and concentration especially in my figure painting. I don't often paint a subject in a traditional portrait format. I aim to capture quiet moments and simple objects that become meaningful simply because we give them our attention.

I emphasize color and light in my work. I love bold color when paired with soft edges and smooth movement. I approach my art with simplified compositions that are balanced with bold saturated color. I want the eye to travel to the part of the painting that feels most important.

I use this same approach in my still lifes. Whether I am painting fruit, a vase of flowers, or a tea kettle, they all become a type of portrait when they are pulled from the mundane and given space within a composition.

The core theme of my work is ultimately about paying attention. I create work that is rich but also quiet. I aim to portray a sense of gratitude for the beautiful moments that often get passed by and go unnoticed.

Resume

Education & Development

  • 2026BFA, Painting and Drawing, Academy of Art University
  • Oil Painting Workshop, Workshop SLC, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Watercolor Workshops, Busy Bee, Layton, Utah
  • 2020–presentIndependent Studio Practice

Group Exhibitions

  • 2024Art and Wine, local art show, Syracuse, Utah

Collections & Commissions

  • Matches and Flame, collection of Brian Arnold
  • Walking Contradiction, collection of Brian Arnold
  • Red-Breasted Robin, collection of Stephanie Harris

Courses

  • Fall Painting Studio, Professor Brandon Smith, Academy of Art University
  • Head Painting and Clothed Figure Painting, Professor Tomutsu Takishima, Academy of Art University

Artistic Practice

  • Mediums: Oil, acrylic, watercolor, and charcoal
  • Primary subjects: Organic still lifes, landscapes, figurative work, and abstraction
  • Areas of interest: Storytelling and color