Mendocino Eco Artists

Karen Bowers writes, "For me, painting is a practice, a perspective on life. Each new piece presents a chance for optimism. This is why I paint and what I hope to convey.

"My painting life began while I was a graduate student in American politics and political thought at UC Berkeley. An architect friend introduced me to tube watercolors.  In 1979, we started the Sunday Afternoon Watercolor Society, painting to record and commemorate places that were about to be changed in some way.  

"My painting education is largely self taught with interspersed workshops and classes with:  George Post, on location in Mendocino, painting and drawing classes at the SF Art Institute, figure drawing in Golden Gate Park, watercolor workshops with Warren Zimmer, Barbara Nechis and Frank Webb, and classes with Woody Hansen at Sacramento City College and with Bob Rhoades at College of the Redwoods. 

"After a career in politics and land use/environmental law policy, I moved to heaven on Navarro Ridge in Albion with my engineer husband.  I joined the local artist community and began painting the landscape I love!   Further,  my interests in California's environmental quality have been centered  through volunteer activities for  California Oak Foundation, California Wildlife Foundation, and Mendocino Land Trust.   I am honored to be a member of Mendocino Eco Artists.

"Today I teach painting at local art centers and in my studio.  My work has been represented by the William Zimmer Gallery, Mendocino Art Center, and exhibited at California College of the Arts, California Oak Foundation, California Wildlife Foundation and Yosemite Museum Gallery, the latter in a show of my work as an Artist in Residence at Yosemite National Park.  My paintings have earned national and local awards.   Currently, I show my work at the Artists Cooperative of Mendocino and Gallery Mendocino."

Coast Monument


Lands End


Offshore


Spring Ranch Barns


Thimbleberry in the Woods

Blue Oaks


Chasing the Light


Gathering Storm


Navarro Beach Under Fog II


Solo


Stolen Moments


Under the Fog

The MEA artists are

Karen Bowers, Mary‑Ellen Campbell, Maeve Croghan, Eleanor Harvey, John Hewitt, Julie Higgins, Debra Beck Lennox, Keith Middlesworth, Deborah Nord, Janis Porter, Paul Reiber, Bob Rhoades, Pat Scott, Cynthia Crocker Scott