Jonathan Bowman has an eye for perfection and a hand for precision. Primarily a portrait artist, the University sophomore uses his impressive technical skill to create the illusion of life against the cold background of a white page.

“You see people draw dime-a-dozen portraits all the time at kiosks in the mall,” Bowman said. “They’re drawings, and you can recognize who it is, but you don’t expect them to start breathing on the paper. That’s what I try and do.”

While Bowman boasts no formal training, he said he’s always enjoyed strong support for his artistic endeavors.

“I had a lot of good people to help foster my interest,” Bowman said. “My dad is an art professor. He’s more on the creative side-his work is all about expressing himself and what he’s thinking. It’s more out there, not as technical as mine.”

In the spirit of youthful defiance, Bowman began drawing things around his house with meticulous detail, a sharp contrast to his father’s free-flowing artistic style.

“I guess it’s natural to rebel a bit against what your parents do. But [my dad] loved it; he was very understanding of my desire for realism.”

That desire for realism drove this talented student to declare a medical illustration major. Yes, that means he draws dead people.

“It’s the most lucrative application for my skill set,” Bowman said. “The way that I draw, how meticulous it is, lends itself to medical illustration because it has to be so precise.”

The slew of anatomy classes doesn’t scare him, either.

“The human body is beautiful, so it can’t be that bad,” he said.

When it comes down to choosing an inspiring subject, according to Bowman, physiognomy is everything.

“I love drawing peoples’ faces,” he said. “And I love interesting features. You can really learn a lot about someone from drawing their face.”

Bowman has one-and only one-formula for creating his artwork, and it’s one that he sticks to like glue.

“I always start with the eyes. They’re my favorite feature – the windows to the soul.”

Other than loving a good face, Bowman said that his inspiration can come from just about anywhere-and he likes to keep it simple.

“If I see it, I can draw it,” he said. “And I’m not making any sort of sociopolitical commentary; I’m not trying to get a point across. I just draw because I can.”