Enchantment

Venvi Art Gallery is pleased to present “Enchantment,” a solo exhibition by Julie Bowland. This show features Bowland’s signature Plein Air Landscapes, capturing the magical serenity of North Florida’s outdoors and beyond.

In her fourth exhibition at Venvi, Bowland reflects on the enduring enchantment of the natural world and its power to evoke feelings of awe and wonder in the viewer. The title of the show is inspired by a quote from early 20th-century Floridian author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings: “I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to.” Much of Rawlings’ literature is based upon her North Florida upbringing, a location that Bowland describes as “ a place some find humble, but I have always found magical.” Utilizing these narrative threads, Bowland paints picturesque scenes of naturalistic landscapes which reflect this sense of wonder.

The collection of oil works in “Enchantment” were painted directly from nature, a technique known as en plein air, French for “in open air.” In this manner, Bowland describes how the changing conditions of the outdoors inspire her to work with spontaneity and dynamic brushstrokes, capturing each scene as she sees it in the moment. She states: “It is exciting and inspiring to slather paint, engulfed in a wild swamp or forest, to dance with the elements of wind, wildlife, and shifting light.” In each of these Plein Air landscapes, the viewer can lose themselves within the vibrant, expressionistic strokes of color, the impressionistic swirling hills and rolling rivers, Bowland’s uniquely-rendered slice of southern wilderness.

Julie Bowland is a Valdosta, Georgia-based artist who taught art and directed the Fine Arts Gallery at Valdosta State University for 20 years, and now is a full-time artist. Formerly a Tallahassee resident, she has a BFA in Painting from Florida State University and an MFA from Arizona State University. Bowland’s work is included in private, public, and corporate collections both nationally and internationally. In the last ten years, Bowland has presented Plein Air painting workshops to high school students, college students, and adult artists in Florida, Georgia, and Utah. Most recently, she was awarded second place in the Pine & Palms member show in Thomasville, Georgia.

“Enchantment” will be open from May 5th to June 11th, 2023, with the opening reception on Friday, May 5th from 5-8 pm. Venvi Art Gallery is located at 2901 East Park Avenue, Tallahassee, FL 32301. For more information about the show and the artists, visit www.venviartgallery.com.