As a historian, writer and artist myself, if there is one person I want to be, it is Mr. Eric Dowdle. He travels worldwide to research and tell fantastic stories about remote and legendary towns in the form of art. This April 26, he will offer a sneak peek into his latest city painting—our very own Washington City of southern Utah, part of “America 250"—as America prepares for its semi quincentennial celebration July 4, 2026.
Wendy: Did you always want to be an artist?
Eric: No, I wanted to be a professional athlete. I’m from a family of 10 boys, so we played sports, and my dad was the type who said, “You can be anything!” I got lucky when I was 11 and we moved to Green River, Wyoming. That might not seem like a thrill, but I had a particular art teacher there who was one in a million. To this day, his widow and I are close friends. He was a special man. You know how you had that teacher where you felt like you were his favorite? At his funeral, there were a thousand of us who thought we were his favorite.
Wendy: What was the most pivotal experience for you in committing to become an artist?
Eric: When I was three, I would look at a wall and picture a piece of art, and I knew I was going to put something on that wall. I would see angles and colors. And because my brothers and I were so competitive, I would draw and create art on that same competitive level. To win. I paint because I want to please people. It is a thrill to make something someone likes. My mom always told me, “Your talent is meant for others, so whatever gift you have, it is for others to enjoy.”
Wendy: What is the role of an artist in society today?
Eric: Mark Twain’s writing is still relevant today. Whether art is in print, or architecture, literature—all of it, an artist's role today is to tell the story for tomorrow.
Wendy: What is it like researching and painting Washington City’s history?
Eric: There are so many stories. So, I created one event in the painting where I could include as many stories as possible. Carmen Snow, who initiated this project, is a long-time friend and also the client. There is SO MUCH to work with—the history, architecture, red rock and a lead-in to Zion National Park.
I attend all of the unveilings of my work, and this time it’s different because it’s Washington City, named after George Washington. America is getting ready to turn 250, and we were asked six years ago to help with this nationwide event. People are so patriotic here. They CHOOSE to be. When they fly a flag, it’s meaningful. They do it on purpose. That is why it feels right for this city to be first in the America 250 celebration.
Wendy: What are your thoughts on the large arts community in southern Utah?
Eric: The St. George Arts Festival was the first I ever showed my work in, and I won. Then I won an award the next year, too. If you can get your work in front of a large number of people, you will know if you have something. And I remember thinking, this feels like an art town. Now, 30 years later I still love the history here, and all the new people arriving. As people continue to move to this area, they will know what this place is about because history has been preserved. St. George is its own thing, and we can’t lose that, or this place will be just like everywhere else. We all need to stay who we are at our core. We WILL evolve, but saving our history is a big deal. Art has played a role in protecting history since the beginning of time. And that is what makes art everything.
For more information about America 250 go to america250.org.
Wendy Wilson Spooner is an award-winning author who writes about family, faith, grief, art and overcoming obstacles. She is a professional genetic genealogist and serves as national vice-chair for Daughters of the American Revolution. She is also president of the St. George Arts Commission.
