It was a good match, and the diverse talents of Dowling soon were applied to a variety of art mediums and needs, including logo design, book and magazine illustrations, and even comic strips, most notably “The Adventures of Nick Blade” for the now defunct Aviation Illustrated magazine. From donating his talents to annually design the art for Santa Paula Cruise Nite T-shirts, Dowling has been highly successful. “One time though, I made some bad money. . .I drew the portrait on the bogus $100 bills used in the motion picture, ‘Rush Hour Two.’ And the longest time I ever spent on one painting was when my wife (Lynne) and I hung out on Santa Barbara Street, drawing on the wall of the County Ag Department fumitorium.”A typical Dowling understatement: that “drawing” is the acclaimed Transportation Mural, part of the Santa Paula Mural Project. Dowling said when he began its design, he took into consideration the building itself, constructed in the 1930s with a somewhat Art Deco appearance.He made 1938 the centerpiece of the 100-foot-long building, now covered almost end to end with a salute to all that is transportation and the days of Santa Paula past. At each end smaller murals depict represent pre- and post-1930s scenes. Dowling, as always, kept a sharp grip on detail, and his wry sense of humor can be spotted among the scenes, featuring automobiles and vans, the train, airplane, bicycles, motorcycle, etc. as well as the people who populate this outstanding work. In addition, a mockingbird who kept a sharp eye on Dowling’s work-in-process and took to serenading the couple is also depicted.Gunderson said the unique meeting is due to Gwen Dewey and her son, aviator Mike Dewey, who “suggested the location and made all the arrangements for permission and arranging for the transportation. We’re looking forward to a wonderful meeting.”For more information, call the SPSA at 525-1104.
Dowling: Mural creator featured SPSA artist at special SP Airport meeting
April 12, 2002
Santa Paula News
The Santa Paula Society of the Arts is offering a special Demonstration Meeting at the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, featuring one of the area’s best known artists: Wendell Dowling, whose diorama of the world famous airport is a highlight of the museum and his Transportation Mural a favorite public artwork
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Santa Paula Society of the Arts is offering a special Demonstration Meeting at the Aviation Museum of Santa Paula, featuring one of the area’s best known artists: Wendell Dowling, whose diorama of the world famous airport is a highlight of the museum and his Transportation Mural a favorite public artwork.The Santa Paula Airport-based meeting - which the public, as always, is welcome to attend - will be on Sunday, April 14, from 2 to 4 p.m., “With golf cart transportation for those who need it,” according to SPSA President Virginia Gunderson.Dowling will forego the usual demonstration format, instead offering an “overview of how he laid out the mural and showing us the studies he made in the preparation, plus answering many questions on the whole process,” said Gunderson. “We are so blessed to have a man of his talent in this town that has produced so many generations of fine artists.”Dowling “Never wanted to be anything but an artist,” a career he launched professionally after graduating from Santa Paula High School.He started working freelance, “what you call yourself when you don’t have a real job and you must create,” out of his home in 1974. “While my wife and kids struggled to survive with me at home, I managed to build a clientele.” He later moved his studio to the airport office of his late father-in-law, Sammy Mason, a noted aviator. One of Dowling’s favorite projects was illustrating Mason’s book “Stalls, Spins and Safety.” Most of his work now consists of aviation-orientated projects, including designing the first phase of the new
