Angela Bawden, Silent Watcher, oil, 48 x 60.
Angela Bawden’s painting SILENT WATCHER is emblematic of everything this Lehi, UT, artist makes: large-scale, time-intensive depictions of subjects near to her heart, made with thoughtful care while thoroughly enjoying the creative process. Owls are a recurring subject for Bawden, as she loves their radiant beauty and spiritual symbolism. “My intention with SILENT WATCHER was to convey the owl’s wisdom and majesty through the gaze in the eyes,” the artist says. “Owls are night creatures, and focusing on their sight symbolizes the ability to navigate any darkness in our life by seeing things from a spiritual perspective. You cannot deceive an owl; it does not tolerate illusion. SILENT WATCHER reminds us to stay true to ourselves and our vision.”
For all the various types of art Bawden creates—fine art, costumes, custom-designed interior décor items—her creative process is determined by her first response to inspiration. “It varies from piece to piece because I enjoy the free-flowing intuitive expression in my work,” she explains. It’s important for me personally as a creative to be able to experiment and expand my artistic skills with a wide variety of techniques and applications.” In the case of SILENT WATCHER, Bawden began with an acrylic underpainting and created abstracted background textures with plaster and gel medium. She then switched to oil for the layers of detail in the owl’s face.
Bawden’s creative joy comes from knowing she gets to follow her calling as a professional painter every day. “When I create art, I feel connected to my purpose,” she says. “I feel the love of my creator. I feel connected to the beauty of life and the planet we live on. I feel connected to my sense of gratitude and appreciation for all creation.”
Find Bawden’s work at Elliott Yeary Gallery, Aspen, CO; Lund’s Fine Art Gallery, Park City, UT; and www.angelabawdenart.com. —Allison Malafronte
This story appeared in the December 2021/January 2022 issue of Southwest Art magazine.