Jake Bowles' Eagle Scout Project

In order to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Jake Bowles turned to his school's art classes for inspiration. When Jake found out that funding for art supplies was being cut, he decided to help his former art teacher. Not only did he fund-raise, he also made tracing tables to donate to her classroom.

School: Canyon High School Grade: 12 Hometown: Anaheim Hills Q: What mediums do you work in?

A: Pencil, acrylic and spray paint. Q. How did you get involved in art?

A. I've been sketching since I was very young. I took art in middle school and choose to take art as an elective my junior year. Q: What is your favorite work of art? Who is your favorite artist of all time and why?

A: "Moroni Hides the Plates in the Hill Cumorah" is my favorite work of art by Tom Lovell, who is my favorite artist. I have always been captivated by his rugged style and skill at flawlessly capturing human locomotion.

Q: Who have been your influences? Did you have a mentor in your development as an artist? If so, how did they help you?

A:The two that come to mind are artists of a different sort but have inspired me nonetheless. Damian Nenow's short drama/film "Paths of Hate," as well as "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," written by Steve Conrad and directed, produced and starring Ben Stiller. Both masterpieces skillfully capturing deep, ridged human emotion.

Q: What inspires you?

A: I am deeply moved by dynamic mechanical functions with their motions and power as well as the human face, using wrinkles, shadowing and facial structure to portray emotion and consciousness.

Q: The next challenge I want to take on is ... Combining technical knowledge with articulate vision to engineer things that will better the lives of those living on Earth.Other than visual arts, are you involved in any other activities? If yes, what are they?

A: I love surfing, weight lifting, reading, building things and being in the outdoors, especially hiking.How do the arts figure in to your long-term goals? I wish to pursue a pathway in engineering. It is my belief that the most impactful engineers are articulate as well as technically sound. I hope to use my creative mind to invent things for the good of man.

Q: What is the best advice you have received?

A: I like the quote often credited to Winston Churchill, "Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm."I hope my legacy as an artist will be ... one that is beautiful but also useful as time goes by.