April Bower is a 2nd generation Arizonian who can’t help being influenced by the vast southwest & who enjoys working with copper, much produced locally, as well as native stones, but in a contemporary styling. April divides her time between home studios in the mountains of Pine, Az. & the desert by Roosevelt lake in Tonto Basin, Az. with her husband and 2 cats.
Bower, has always been fascinated by all the varied processes involved in metalworking. After earning her BFA degree, she went from teaching jewelry making skills, to 18+ years at a jewelers bench in fine jewelry, working exclusively with diamonds and gold, then on to form a line of copper fountain sculptures.
Now, using the same chemical patinas used to color the fountain parts, she makes “Patina Paintings” on thin copper sheets supported by wood backings: "boxes". Usually arranged in multiples, these “Boxes” vary in size from 8x8” to 36x48” prices range from $100 to $3000. Customers often select individual pieces to make their own arrangement.
“Copper is an interesting metal, offering a huge range in colorations”. says April , who is also a watercolorist. “Painting with chemicals on copper is a lot like watercolor; you never know exactly how it will turn out. It’s the results, and what you do with it that makes it interesting. It’s a balance between you controlling it…and it controlling you”
Her jewelry has also evolved, away from commercial fine jewelry, to contemporary, extremely wearable, one of a kind, and limited editions. Bower now works mostly in silver, bi-metals and copper, using color & texture as the main ingredients.
Her work is in collections worldwide and she is represented by: Gallery 873 in Ivins, Utah where she was Featured Artist for their 5th anniversary celebration September 2012. Also represented by Panterra, in Bisbee AZ, The "Store" at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Scottsdale, AZ. ,Down the Street Art Gallery in Payson AZ. , The Artists Gallery in Fountain Hills, AZ. and the Sedona Art Center, in Sedona, Az. where she is a juried member.
Bower teaches workshops in her own studio as well as Art Retreats such as ARTunraveled.