Bowman applies layers of "old-fashioned" milk paint over portions of smooth and distressed wood to create the multi-hued and faceted looks characteristic of his studio furniture. Milk paint, which has been around for hundreds of years, is made from natural milk protein mixed with lime, natural pigments and water. Bowman says he prefers milk paint over other finishing materials because of its durability and fast drying time. It also is biodegradable and contains no volatile organic compounds. "The milk paint dries quickly and sands very nicely, so you can layer and expose different colors underneath. The first layer comes out pretty opaque at first, so I use at least four layers of each color to get a rich look," Bowman says. "I also like to combine layers of different colors. Depending on the type of texture used, the sanding [of the color layers] will expose different [intensities] of the colors underneath," he adds.
After painting, the finished wood is hand rubbed with steel wool "to give it a fine sheen," Bowman says. After he burnishes the painted areas, a coating of Sam Maloof polyoil sealer is applied to all wood surfaces. "The polyoil seals the wood and gives it a gloss finish. It not only gives protection, it is also the most natural-looking finish for wood and gives a nice sheen to the paint," Bowman adds. Although Bowman typically uses the milk paint as a single ingredient, he says that it also can be mixed with other materials, such as acrylics, to give better adhesion onto other media. In addition to solid wood - primarily poplar, mahogany, cherry and walnut - Bowman also uses copper, glass and other "reclaimed" materials in his projects."Reclaimed" is an appropriate choice of word by Bowman, who has been known to use atypical materials in his furniture. For example, to construct the body of a decorative floor clock, Bowman used the decking from a an old treadmill designated for junk. "I've also used salvaged lumber from old barns, cement and old copper pipes in some of my projects," he says. Adding Texture
Bowman employs a number of methods for adding texture, including gouging and grinding. "I'll use an angle grinder a lot of times or take a hand chisel and gouge divets in the wood. I'll also cut lines for another type of [effect]," he says. "The texturing and painting often take as long, or longer, as building the project," Bowman adds. While the finish is drying on one project, Bowman is already at work on another. He typically has three or four jobs - benches, tables, clocks or chairs - in progress at the same time in the 800-square-foot shop located adjacent to his home in Indianapolis, IN.Inside the shop, an array of hand tools are used in conjunction with a variety of standard machines. Among the equipment is: an 8-inch Grizzly jointer, DeWalt and Jet saws, and a Delta 15-inch planer, bench grinder and 12-inch edge sander. Creating Functional Art Bowman has made a successful career selling his one-of-a-kind wood tables, clocks, benches, chairs and other pieces of studio furniture through galleries and art shows. However, he is the first to admit that woodworking was not his first career choice.
"A friend talked me into taking a woodworking class, and it was a real eye opener. When I first started, the Arts and Crafts style was a big influence. It wasn't until later that I was exposed to a lot of studio furniture. Now, I guess I would classify my work as a type of art-studio furniture," he says. While the finish adds to the piece's artistic appeal, also integral are the curves, carvings and other artistic touches added by Bowman. "I always liked sculpture, but I couldn't justify it - furniture needs some type of purpose," he says. "All my pieces are decorative yet functional to a point - or at least hint at function."One of his more popular projects is the Recollection Series of memory box tables. Inset into the tabletop is space for storing a prized memento, such as an heirloom piece of jewelry. A glass top enables the table to be fully functional.
Bowman's work can be seen in galleries across the United States, including: Tercera Gallery, Palo Alto, CA; Function+Art, Chicago, IL; Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA; and Domont Studio Gallery, Indianapolis, IN. He also has participated in a variety of art shows, including the recent Curv-iture, a juried exhibition of furniture sponsored by The Furniture Society.
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