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Peter Bowden | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Peteroglyphs tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Peteroglyphs

Peteroglyphs

Over the years I’ve enjoyed creating sculpture, watercolor paintings and, most especially, photographs. Since my wife Sharon and I have been visiting the American Southwest where I grew up, I’ve developed a passion for re-creating the rock art that we’ve seen. This was for my own amusement and display. That’s why I create Peteroglyphs…to honor those ancient and original artists. If you believe that art is communication, then you will understand that, while spending time recreating their art, I’m also able to come to know them just a little bit better. Once you do, you realize that they were just a talented and clever as we are; they were simply living in an earlier time with different resources and technologies.

The process

Rock art is never displayed on a flat surface so I chose rough canvas as the surface for my rock art re-creations. The wrinkles and folds create shadow and light very much like a real rock surface. Once each canvas is cut it is treated to fray the edges. Ancient Puebloans and other native groups produced rough cotton cloth which can be found on display in museums including The Edge of the Cedars Museum. These examples are often frayed from use and the passage of centuries. My choice of frayed, rough cotton cloth is pays homage to those ancient weavers. Once my canvas is ready, it is time to paint the backgrounds. Since this is a wet, messy process, I generally create them in batches. Working with the canvas wet, acrylic paint is applied in diluted washes. During the drying process, the pigment migrates through the canvas adding an organic look that can’t be achieved by hand. It is always exciting to pick through the backgrounds after drying to see what they’ve morphed into.

Next, a figure or scene is chosen for each canvas background. Sometimes the background seems to suggest what it wants painted on it. Other times I’ll browse through my collection of photographs for inspiration. For commission work, the background is created specifically for that scene.

Once the choice is made, the canvas is lightly remoistened and the scene is painted on. For a pictograph, the canvas is moistened enough so that the paint can bleed into the canvas just as paint might get absorbed into porous sandstone. When recreating a petroglyph, the paint is stippled onto a drier surface to replicate the figures chipped into the surface of the dark rock surface known as “desert varnish”. To be honest, this is the part of the process that I love the most. The focus is on applying paint. It is in these quiet moments of concentration that I sometimes feel that am making a connection with the original artist who spent many hours and days creating the image. This is the connection I hope that those who view my re-creations will feel as well.

Once the painting is complete, it is time for the mounting. To compliment the painting I hang them from willow twigs with wire. The use of shaved willow for mounting is a nod to the ancient’s use of willow in their daily lives. The wood is flexible when fresh and can be fashioned into many useful shapes. The bark can be striped off and woven. Willow wood was the choice for constructing the looms they used to manufacture cotton fabric.

The wire is formed in a spiral. Spirals are commonly found in rock art worldwide. There are many theories regarding what they represent. In the context of my creations, they represent time in an ever expanding spiral. Through alternative avenues of communication like art, we can know people of the past by leaping from ring to ring across the spiral of time.

Contact me at pbowden2@nycap.rr.com if you are interested in anything available below about or commissioning a depiction of your favorite rock art.

Dezert 2014Spring201.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring201.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring204.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring204.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring204a.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring204a.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring205.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring205.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring205a.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring205a.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring206.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring206.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring206a.jpg
Dezert 2014Spring206a.jpg
DSC08753a.jpg
DSC08753a.jpg
Duet Shay Canyon 2-13-14  14X16 .jpg
Duet Shay Canyon 2-13-14 14X16 .jpg
Display at The Hogan Trading Post, Moab, Utah
Display at The Hogan Trading Post, Moab, Utah
The Woz and the horses.jpg
The Woz and the horses.jpg
Rainmaker #3 Available at Edge of the Cedars Museum, Blanding Utah
Rainmaker #3 Available at Edge of the Cedars Museum, Blanding Utah
Buffalo Hunter #1 Sold
Buffalo Hunter #1 Sold
Sinbad #2 Sold
Sinbad #2 Sold
Dogman #1 Sold
Dogman #1 Sold
Rainmaker #2  Sold
Rainmaker #2 Sold
Rainmaker #4 Sold
Rainmaker #4 Sold
Rainmaker #5 Sold
Rainmaker #5 Sold
Rainmaker #6 Sold
Rainmaker #6 Sold
Rainmaker #7 Sold
Rainmaker #7 Sold
dogman 2 Sold
dogman 2 Sold
dogman Sold
dogman Sold
Rainmaker 8. Sold
Rainmaker 8. Sold
Buffalo Hunter Sold
Buffalo Hunter Sold
Buffalo Hunter 3 Sold
Buffalo Hunter 3 Sold
Natural Bridges Artist's Personal Collection
Natural Bridges Artist's Personal Collection
Brothers.   Artist's Personal Collection
Brothers. Artist's Personal Collection
P1031943.jpg
P1031943.jpg
San Rafael Swell Artist's Personal Collection
San Rafael Swell Artist's Personal Collection
P1031945.jpg
P1031945.jpg
P1031946.jpg
P1031946.jpg
P1031947.jpg
P1031947.jpg
P1031948.jpg
P1031948.jpg
Abel  10-28-12  30x21  Sold
Abel 10-28-12 30x21 Sold
Anthromorph Buckhorn Wash Utah  24x11  Sold
Anthromorph Buckhorn Wash Utah 24x11 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Group 10-28-12  33x16. Sold
Buckhorn Wash Group 10-28-12 33x16. Sold
Cain and Abel 10-28-12 15x11  Sold
Cain and Abel 10-28-12 15x11 Sold
Dogman 10-28-12  11x11  Sold
Dogman 10-28-12 11x11 Sold
Horned Owl Moab Area 10-28-12 12x14  Sold
Horned Owl Moab Area 10-28-12 12x14 Sold
Magician Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 19x9  Sold
Magician Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 19x9 Sold
Owl and Sheep  Moab Area 10-28-12  25x11   Sold
Owl and Sheep Moab Area 10-28-12 25x11 Sold
Rainbow Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12  22x14 35.jpg Sold
Rainbow Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14 35.jpg Sold
Rainmaker 10  10-28-12  33x17  Sold
Rainmaker 10 10-28-12 33x17 Sold
Rainmaker 11 10-28-12  7x16   30.jpg Sold
Rainmaker 11 10-28-12 7x16 30.jpg Sold
Sheep Hunt 10-28-12  10x10   Sold
Sheep Hunt 10-28-12 10x10 Sold
Snake Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12  22x13  Sold
Snake Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x13 Sold
Stick Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14   Sold
Stick Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14 Sold
Warrior Newspaper Rock 10-28-12.jpg
Warrior Newspaper Rock 10-28-12.jpg
Buckhorn Wash Group 10-28-12  33x16 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Group 10-28-12 33x16 Sold
Abel  10-28-12  30x21  Sold
Abel 10-28-12 30x21 Sold
Temple Wash Group 10-28-12  Sold
Temple Wash Group 10-28-12 Sold
Anthromorph Buckhorn Wash Utah  24x11 Sold
Anthromorph Buckhorn Wash Utah 24x11 Sold
Sheep Hunt 10-28-12  10x10 sold.jpg
Sheep Hunt 10-28-12 10x10 sold.jpg
Magician Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 19x9 sold.jpg
Magician Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 19x9 sold.jpg
Rainmaker 11 10-28-12  7x16  Sold
Rainmaker 11 10-28-12 7x16 Sold
Owl and Sheep  Moab Area 10-28-12  25x11  Sold
Owl and Sheep Moab Area 10-28-12 25x11 Sold
Dogman 10-28-12  11x11  Sold
Dogman 10-28-12 11x11 Sold
Cain and Abel 10-28-12 15x11  Sold
Cain and Abel 10-28-12 15x11 Sold
Horned Owl Moab Area 10-28-12 12x14  Sold
Horned Owl Moab Area 10-28-12 12x14 Sold
Stick Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14  Sold
Stick Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14 Sold
Snake Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12  22x13  Sold
Snake Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x13 Sold
Rainbow Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12  22x14  sold
Rainbow Man Buckhorn Wash 10-28-12 22x14 sold
Rainmaker 10  10-28-12  33x17  Sold
Rainmaker 10 10-28-12 33x17 Sold
P6054335.JPG  Sold
P6054335.JPG Sold
P6054334.JPG  Sold
P6054334.JPG Sold
Kokopelli Dancers Shay Canyon 11-23-12. Sold
Kokopelli Dancers Shay Canyon 11-23-12. Sold
Elk Moab Area 5-5-13 10  5x11.Sold
Elk Moab Area 5-5-13 10 5x11.Sold
Dogman Horseshoe Canyon 5-5-13  12x9.Sold
Dogman Horseshoe Canyon 5-5-13 12x9.Sold
Sheep Hunt 4-23-13  11x13. Sold
Sheep Hunt 4-23-13 11x13. Sold
Owl and Sheep  4=23-13  20x10.Sold
Owl and Sheep 4=23-13 20x10.Sold
Dotted Man 1-13-13  9x17 Sold
Dotted Man 1-13-13 9x17 Sold
Striped Anthromorph Horseshoe Canyon  2-13-13  26x28 Sold
Striped Anthromorph Horseshoe Canyon 2-13-13 26x28 Sold
Great Gallery Figures  1-23-13  17x34. Sold
Great Gallery Figures 1-23-13 17x34. Sold
Tribal Circle Escalante River  1-23-13   31x19 Sold
Tribal Circle Escalante River 1-23-13 31x19 Sold
Temple Wash Group  2-13-13  37x20.Sold
Temple Wash Group 2-13-13 37x20.Sold
Magician Buckhorn Wash  1-23-13  9x21.Sold
Magician Buckhorn Wash 1-23-13 9x21.Sold
Zion Canyon Group  3-13-13  25x11.Sold
Zion Canyon Group 3-13-13 25x11.Sold
Anthro Nine Mile Canyon   9-15-13   11X13.5 sold
Anthro Nine Mile Canyon 9-15-13 11X13.5 sold
Owl and sheep 9-2-13 26X13 Sold
Owl and sheep 9-2-13 26X13 Sold
Striped Anthro 9-6-13   13X14 Sold
Striped Anthro 9-6-13 13X14 Sold
Crow Canyon Group  8-15-13  18X11 Sold
Crow Canyon Group 8-15-13 18X11 Sold
Dogman Group 8-20-13   16X7.5 Sold
Dogman Group 8-20-13 16X7.5 Sold
Puma 9-2-13  21X13. Sold
Puma 9-2-13 21X13. Sold
Dine Corn  9-15-13   11X14. Sold
Dine Corn 9-15-13 11X14. Sold
Fremont Warrior  8-2-13   11-13. Sold
Fremont Warrior 8-2-13 11-13. Sold
Wolfman 8-7-13   15.5X15. Sold
Wolfman 8-7-13 15.5X15. Sold
Duckhead and warriors  7-27-13   19X9.5.Sold
Duckhead and warriors 7-27-13 19X9.5.Sold
Great Gallery Group 70X26   commission sold
Great Gallery Group 70X26 commission sold
Courthouse Wash Anthro 11-5-13 10.5X13.5 Sold
Courthouse Wash Anthro 11-5-13 10.5X13.5 Sold
Snake Men Kane Creek 11-5-13  23X9 Sold
Snake Men Kane Creek 11-5-13 23X9 Sold
Mesmerized Shay Canyon  11-1-13. Sold
Mesmerized Shay Canyon 11-1-13. Sold
Anthro B Sego Canyon 11-12-13 12X13  Sold
Anthro B Sego Canyon 11-12-13 12X13 Sold
Anthro A Sego Canyon 11-12-13  12ZX14  Sold
Anthro A Sego Canyon 11-12-13 12ZX14 Sold
Shay Canyon Kokopelli 11-3-13    12X13  Sold
Shay Canyon Kokopelli 11-3-13 12X13 Sold
Circle Anthro 11-3-13      13X13.5  Sold
Circle Anthro 11-3-13 13X13.5 Sold
Antennae Anthro 11-2-13   12 X19  Sold
Antennae Anthro 11-2-13 12 X19 Sold
Sego Canyon ram  32 X 48 Commission Sold
Sego Canyon ram 32 X 48 Commission Sold
many hands 8-9-13.Sold
many hands 8-9-13.Sold
many hands 7-7-13.Sold
many hands 7-7-13.Sold
Migrations 11-19-13  24X14  Sold
Migrations 11-19-13 24X14 Sold
Chauvet Cave Horses 34X29  Commission Sold
Chauvet Cave Horses 34"X29" Commission Sold
Circle Anthro 11-27-13.jpg Artist's Collection
Circle Anthro 11-27-13.jpg Artist's Collection
Coso anthro wlizard  44.5 X 20.5.jpg   Sold
Coso anthro wlizard 44.5 X 20.5.jpg Sold
Buckhorn Anthro 2-13-14 8.5X24 Sold
Buckhorn Anthro 2-13-14 8.5X24 Sold
Circle Anthro 2-13-14 16X18.Available  the Hogan Gallery  Moab, Utah
Circle Anthro 2-13-14 16X18.Available the Hogan Gallery Moab, Utah
The Crane SE Utah 2-13-14  20.5X23.Sold
The Crane SE Utah 2-13-14 20.5X23.Sold
Duckhead and warriors Potash Rd  2-27-13    19X9.5. Sold
Duckhead and warriors Potash Rd 2-27-13 19X9.5. Sold
Duet Shay Canyon 2-13-14  14X16.Sold
Duet Shay Canyon 2-13-14 14X16.Sold
Owl Nine Mile Canyon 2-13-14 14.5X12.Sold
Owl Nine Mile Canyon 2-13-14 14.5X12.Sold
Circle Anthro Courthouse Wash 12-1-13  10.5X9.5.Sold
Circle Anthro Courthouse Wash 12-1-13 10.5X9.5.Sold
Sego Ram 2-13-14 20X24.5. Sold
Sego Ram 2-13-14 20X24.5. Sold
Kokopelli Dancers 2-13-14 30X18.Sold
Kokopelli Dancers 2-13-14 30X18.Sold
Great Gallery Group 2-13-14 21X12.Sold
Great Gallery Group 2-13-14 21X12.Sold
sego canyon ram group 1-23-14.Sold
sego canyon ram group 1-23-14.Sold
Mesmerized Shay Canyon 12-10-13 20X12 50.Sold
Mesmerized Shay Canyon 12-10-13 20X12 50.Sold
Sego Ram Group 4-6-14 36 X 24.5  Sold
Sego Ram Group 4-6-14 36 X 24.5" Sold
Two Dog Panel 7-6-14 24X14.5 Sold
Two Dog Panel 7-6-14 24X14.5 Sold
Galaxy 7-6-14 23X22 Sold.jpg
Galaxy 7-6-14 23X22 Sold.jpg
Galaxy 7-6-14b.jpg
Galaxy 7-6-14b.jpg
Galaxy 7-6-14a.jpg
Galaxy 7-6-14a.jpg
Puma 7-6-14 Petrified Forest 18X9 Sold.jpg
Puma 7-6-14 Petrified Forest 18X9 Sold.jpg
Jackrabbit Legend Rock Wyoming. 6-23-14 16X18 Sold
Jackrabbit Legend Rock Wyoming. 6-23-14 16X18 Sold
Dogman Panel 7-23-14 x 13 Gifted.jpg
Dogman Panel 7-23-14 x 13 Gifted.jpg
Alans Coso Cowboy 8-3-14  11.5 x 15 Gifted.jpg
Alans Coso Cowboy 8-3-14 11.5 x 15 Gifted.jpg
Animal Anthro 4-22-14 10X14 Sold
Animal Anthro 4-22-14 10X14 Sold
Mesmerized 6-23-14 18x11.5 Sold
Mesmerized 6-23-14 18x11.5 Sold
Striped Anthro 5-23-14 17x25 Sold
Striped Anthro 5-23-14 17x25 Sold
Many Hands 5-13-14 23x12 Sold
Many Hands 5-13-14 23x12 Sold
Flute Dancers 8-5-14 10x22.5 Sold
Flute Dancers 8-5-14 10x22.5 Sold
Circle Anthro 7-23-14 12 in.jpg Sold
Circle Anthro 7-23-14 12 in.jpg Sold
Owl 6-23-14 11.5x13 Sold
Owl 6-23-14 11.5x13 Sold
The Crane 5-23-14 20x14 Sold
The Crane 5-23-14 20x14 Sold
Fringed Figure 6-23-14 6x12 Sold
Fringed Figure 6-23-14 6x12 Sold
Stick Man 7-23-14 9x23 Sold
Stick Man 7-23-14 9x23 Sold
Fremont Group 6-23-14 13.5X25 Sold
Fremont Group 6-23-14 13.5X25 Sold
Frog Man 7-23-14 15X20 35 Sold
Frog Man 7-23-14 15X20 35 Sold
Coso Anthro 10-10-14 29X36 Sold.jpg
Coso Anthro 10-10-14 29X36 Sold.jpg
Conquistadors Crow Canyon 12-5-14 Comission.jpg
Conquistadors Crow Canyon 12-5-14 Comission.jpg
Dine Corn Crow Canyon 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
Dine Corn Crow Canyon 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
Rainbow man 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
Rainbow man 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
snakeman 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
snakeman 12-5-14 Comission .jpg
Galaxy 2 53X38  Sold
Galaxy 2 53"X38" Sold
Galaxy2 e.jpg
Galaxy2 e.jpg
Galaxy2 d.jpg
Galaxy2 d.jpg
Galaxy2 b.jpg
Galaxy2 b.jpg
Galaxy2 c.jpg
Galaxy2 c.jpg
Chauvet Lions 12-20-13   40X19.jpg
Chauvet Lions 12-20-13 40X19.jpg
Big Man Cedar Mesa  3-4-14 36 X 57 .jpg
Big Man Cedar Mesa 3-4-14 36 X 57 .jpg
Freemont Figures 3-15-15 43X21.5 .jpg Sold
Freemont Figures 3-15-15 43X21.5 .jpg Sold
Burden Bearers 3-2-15  36X25.5.jpg
Burden Bearers 3-2-15 36X25.5.jpg
Coso Rotundo 29X28 3-2-15 .jpg
Coso Rotundo 29X28 3-2-15 .jpg
Stickman 3-15-15 36X17 .jpg
Stickman 3-15-15 36X17 .jpg
Redrock moonriseb.jpg
Redrock moonriseb.jpg
Hooked X Crow Canyon Scott Wolter.jpg
Hooked X Crow Canyon Scott Wolter.jpg
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 31.5  Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 31.5" Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
Buckhorn Wash Trio 8-1-15 Sold
20151230_080852.jpg
20151230_080852.jpg
PB034369.jpg
PB034369.jpg
PB034370.jpg
PB034370.jpg
PB034371.jpg
PB034371.jpg
PB034372.jpg
PB034372.jpg
20151230_080910.jpg
20151230_080910.jpg
Holy Ghost Group 6-27-16a.jpg
Holy Ghost Group 6-27-16a.jpg
Cain 6-27-16a.jpg
Cain 6-27-16a.jpg
Lascaux Horses 4-25-16  25X20.jpg
Lascaux Horses 4-25-16 25X20.jpg
Lascaux Horses 4-24-16 25X20.jpg
Lascaux Horses 4-24-16 25X20.jpg
Junes Moon 2.jpg
Junes Moon 2.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-16-16c 1.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-16-16c 1.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-17-16b 2.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-17-16b 2.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-17-16b 1.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-17-16b 1.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-14-16.jpg
Redrock Moorise 2-14-16.jpg
Many Hands 1-19-16  17.5X8.jpg
Many Hands 1-19-16 17.5X8.jpg
Many Hands 1-18-16 18X8.jpg
Many Hands 1-18-16 18X8.jpg
PC214560.JPG
PC214560.JPG
20170206_084107a.jpg
20170206_084107a.jpg
20170206_084058a.jpg
20170206_084058a.jpg
20170206_084121a.jpg
20170206_084121a.jpg
20171124_215004a.jpg
20171124_215004a.jpg
20171124_215021a.jpg
20171124_215021a.jpg
20171124_215101a.jpg
20171124_215101a.jpg
20171127_170429a.jpg
20171127_170429a.jpg
Renegade Canyon Moonrise  2-5-18.jpg
Renegade Canyon Moonrise 2-5-18.jpg
Renegade1a.jpg
Renegade1a.jpg