The Bowen Knot ⌘: Painting

Sunday, January 31, 2016

OMGosh...I, Dan Harley Bowen Have Finally Found Peace, Love, Happiness, and My Renewed Creative Side

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

I used to draw and paint quite a lot. I even read a LOT of books. And movies. OMGosh, I was and really still am a complete nut on movies.

Then I got married to a soul draining witch that extinguished all creative abilities...enough said, but you get the gist. After nine years of hell and two more of divorce mess, I had an exorcism performed, in a way and got rid of all that evil.

I feel much better now.

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

I picked back up some of my desire to draw and paint. I am back to reading books and enjoying movies. I listen to music again. In short, a lot of the things that made up a big part of who I am is recovered and is beginning to flourish again.

I love to paint! I paint with serious ambition for someone who is untrained. I love to experiment and create new designs. My mind has so many ideas and I lack the serious talent to realize much of them. But, I do try.

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

Most of my paintings are the second, third, or even fourth attempt on that same canvas. I keep trying until I get something I am completely happy with. I don’t do this for others, I do it for me. For enjoyment but also as a form of personal therapy. It truly helps a lot.

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

Heather thinks its good enough that others might like to have some of my painting, as well. I doubt it but, hey you never know. I had several pieces that I gave to one of our best friends Christie before we left for Ecuador. I think its neat to see the differences in my skills over time.

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

I wish I had the money to have a studio where I could let the paint fly without a care. I think I would have 50 or more canvases going at any given time. From small to huge…even 10 feet long. I would paint every day to my music. I know I would not create anything of serious value but its most likely what I would do if I ever won the lottery.

I also like blacksmith and metal work. I would love someday to learn to work with copper more. And knife making interests me a LOT. Who knows? Maybe someday I will be able to realize the dreams. For now I dabble with a paintbrush and I get to feel better about myself in doing so.

I think it's important that I point out what made all of this possible. Heather Yvonne Bowen. Her love, support, and encouragement. My marriage to my first love works. We respect each other. We put each other first. It makes such a difference that it's amazing. Happiness not hate. We are a team and I get her support and criticisms. She does not lie or tell me what I want to hear. She challenges me to seek improvement. To better myself and my relationship with her. It is work and it can be difficult. But all I need to remember is that hard work is the basis for anything worth having. I seriously love her and value what we have. I am so lucky to have reconnected with her and realized my dreams with always with her.

Here is a preview of my latest painting that I'm still working on:

Artist: Dan H. Bowen

Disclaimer: All paints posted on this page were created, painted, and belong to Dan H. Bowen and The Bowen Knot Blog Family. DO NOT SHARE or STEAL!

Thursday, July 2, 2015

Our New Tropical Fun, Funky, and Crazy Office Furniture

Unfinished Table

Unfinished Tables

We needed some tables for our computer room. And we looked around at many places and balked at paying hundreds of dollars for something that we didn't even like. Then we came up with the idea to head down to the Rotary and do some shopping for several woven baskets. So Happy we did since we spotted the exact tables we were looking for all over Cuenca!

We found two matching tables we liked and even a hutch. All were unfinished/unpainted. The fun part is the folks that make the furniture are recycling unwanted materials, as well. Big bonus for us. They are taking pallets apart and making all kinds of furniture with the wood.

We got the tables for $45.00US each and the hutch for $25.00US. Then all three of us went to Kiwi hardware store and bought several fun tropical paint colors and polyurethane for under fifty bucks. Oh, and some sandpaper and paintbrushes, as well.

Sanded and Primed

Momma and I sanded, primed, and painted the tables and then I urethaned them several times so they were protected. After several weeks of effort they were done. It was well worth it...we have some of the most colorful, creative, and very inexpensive tables around. We liked them so much we even went back and got a few more things to paint.

Early in the Urethane Process

Starting to Paint the Shelf

When we came to Ecuador we knew we wanted to have some colorful bright and cherry things that would be more local. As we have decorated our home we keep adding more things we find that we like. I must say these tables have added quite a bit of fun to our days.

Urethane Process

Finished Desks...Still Setting Up the Office

About Our Blog

Our blog is about a lot of things. Our daily lives, our move to Ecuador, and the vacations we plan to have. Please read and follow our travels through life. We welcome comments! Making friends along the way would also be great. People have described us as being colorful and animated. Our family looks at a glass and always considers it to be half full. We have an easy going attitude. We think things should get accomplished and that in the process you can still have fun. Feel free to come along on our families journey.

The Bowen Knot - Shamrock Rating System

One Shamrock: This indicates the worst service possible. If awarded, it means we would never EVER use the service again. If it was a food establishment the food was barely editable. This means a complete fail with little to no redeeming features. We will never go there ever again.

Two Shamrocks: This is a service that we might consider using again to give it a second chance. But, the experience that we had would normally cause us to award one shamrock if not for some key redeeming features. If it was a food establishment the food was okay, but still sub-par. We didn't like the food. Serious room for improvement exists.

Three Shamrocks: Normal middle of the road service. We might have had some bad or some good but they were offset somewhat. This is service we would use again but we will look for a better provider. If it was a food establishment the food was good. We like it and will return. There might be room for things to get better but it is still a decent meal.

Four Shamrocks: Great service. This is a definitive repeat for us. We like a lot about the service and recommend it. If it was a food establishment the food was excellent. We liked it a lot. We like the place enough to return frequently. There are very few detractors.

Five Shamrocks: Outstanding service. This is service that treats us above and beyond what we think we deserve. We consider this what we would want to find all the time and what we hope all service providers would want to obtain. If it was a food establishment the food was perfect. No issues whatsoever. We loved it and would eat there everyday.