Brian
Davis ...
The old adage, “Art imitates life”,
could not be a more true description of how profound and true Brian
Davis’ work is. Known for his special attention to light and detail,
Mr. Davis’ primary subjects are florals and landscapes. Born in
California in 1946, Brian Davis was raised by musician parents to appreciate
all things artistic, and true to his upbringing he has always loved
painting. Art is his passion. It is the muse with which he creates his
colorful true to life florals.
Although magnificent flowers and landscapes
are the main choice for his compositions, Mr. Davis explains, "The
actual job of making an arresting piece of art has nothing to do with
what the thing is." Mr. Davis transforms exquisite blossoms like
roses, calla lilies, and dahlias into romantic, compelling images with
sharpness, color, movement, edge and light.
Before he begins his masterpieces,
Mr. Davis spends extensive time researching and scouting for a flower
or scene that catches his eye. He carries a camera everywhere so he
can shoot a subject at any moment. Since flowers wilt so quickly, and
it can take weeks to complete a painting, he has found a way to create
a floral image from a series of different shots for each flower. He
may not do an exact botanical rendering and changes colors and leaves
at will.
Mr. Davis believes that the depth
in his art is derived from paying attention to the subtle shifts in
value - relative dark and light. He is often asked if there is a light
source behind his paintings. "The light is the real subject of
my work. The flower is the stage state, the light is the dancer."
Using two hanging mirrors to view the unfinished painting at all angles,
he works daily in his studio surrounded by books, music, and historical
videos.
Mr. Davis is a true artist with vast
understanding and knowledge of art. "My art, like all art, is at
its core a form of communication that is not easily translated into
words - good art transcends words." It is his hope that viewers
look at his works and respond, for then they are hearing his voice,
understanding his concept of what is worth creating. His paintings are
a fascinating group of images that allow the viewer to feel and recognize
the nature of light - the essence of a Brian Davis painting.
One of the greatest achievements in
Mr. Davis’ career has been his commissioned work for The Huntington
Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Over the last 20 years,
the floral painting expert has created seven pieces that have been used
as posters to commemorate different exhibitions at The Huntington. His
seventh piece, “Captivating Cattleya” was most recently
used in October 2005 for the “Orchids: A Natural Obsession”
exhibit. Mr. Davis’ work can be found in the permanent collection
of The Huntington Library, The Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and
the New York Botanical Garden. |
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