Spout Spring artist named as finalist in national competition

pout Spring has been awarded placement as a finalist in the Portrait Society of America’s nationwide competition.

Gowen’s portrait was chosen to be among the top 50 entries out of 1,219 submitted by artists all over the United States. Gowen was notified on Dec. 15.

The award winning oil painting, entitled “The Nap” is life sized, measuring 48 by 36 inches. The subject of the portrait is Gowen’s father, the late Nathan Gowen.

Gowen has been drawing and painting all of his life. He has studied in workshops with such masters as John Howard Sanden, Clayton Beck III and Michael Shane Neal. His paintings have been seen from New York City to California in shows such as the Salmagundi Club, Salon International, Oil Painter’s of America, Hilton Head Art League, and the National Oil and Acrylic Painter’s Society.

Gowen’s works hang in corporate and private collections and has been commended with many awards. He has had several solo and group shows, including one in New York City’s Soho District in 1999.

The Portrait Society of America, according to their web-site, states it’s aim as being “. . .dedicated to promoting fine art portraiture and figurative works through publications and programs.”

Founded in 1998, the society is based in Tallahassee, Fla. and staffed by the finest and most renowned portrait painters currently in America.

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