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Artist of The Month: Nancy Davidson |
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by M. Y. Mim |
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"An artist friend of mine says that it takes 50 plus years and three generations of selective breeding to make a single piece [of art]. I tend to agree," says artist Nancy Davidson. |
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Apparently the genes carried through, and the 50 years compressed, because Nancy Davidson's accolades prove her talent and recognition. Nancy studied art at Santa Barbara City College and the Art Center of Design, Pasadena, and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Studio Art from University of California, Santa Barbara. Among her publications and awards:
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2000 California Cowboy Award, Grand National Rodeo Art Show, juried show
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2000 First Place Oil Painting, Western States Horse Exposition, juried show, Sacramento, CA
2001 "The Equine Image" magazine, featured millennium artist, December-January issue
2003 "Equine Vision" magazine, "Beyond the Reality," feature article, Fall issue
2004 Paintings selected for set design in Academy Award winning film, "Sideways"
2006 - Became Platinum Member of the Grand National Artists Society, an invitation-only group of professional, highly talented artists.
2006 - Exhibited at the invitation-only Grand National Art Show and Sale, San Francisco Cow Palace. |
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Nancy Davidson oil, "Another Bad Hair Day." |
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Nancy's large, bold, colorful canvases earn such honors because she paints brilliant work that demands attention. A proclaimed admirer of George Stubbs, she always ensures that her horses are depicted accurately. Much of her work shows horses in movement; her energetic style particularly suits motion. |
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Nancy Davidson oil, untitled.
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Nancy Davidson oil, untitled. |
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Working primarily in oils, Nancy's canvases are thick with paint, providing further brilliance and texture to the bright colors she uses. |
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Nancy comments, "I would like to be known for making solid, realistic paintings of horses, but with the emotions of color adding a contemporary feel. I love the smell, the feel and the color. I also like to have a physical manifestation of an internal vision. It is the only way I can communicate it to others."
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She likens her process to playing chess: "The first thing I do in beginning a piece is to make a black and white sketch in pencil to establish the basic underlying abstract pattern and compos ion.
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"The process of making a piece is like playing chess I take one step at a time until it's done. After the sketch, I stretch and gesso a canvass, then apply a background tone of burnt sienna. Then I start with the darks, then midtones, and finally highlights. The hardest part for me is knowing when I'm done. It's usually sooner than I think."
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| Nancy established herself as an equine artist in the early 1990s. She prefers equine work because, "Aesthetically, horses are beautiful subjects. They combine large, powerful shapes with delicate, refined lines and curvilinear rhythms, Historically, they are rich with |
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symbolism. They are often used to depict instinct, desire, life transitions and the passage of time. In some cultures, they represent the entire cosmos. For me they are a symbol if creative energy and spirit."
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Nancy Davidson oil, "Gus." |
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For inspiration, Nancy says she gets inspired from the world around her. "Of course, I watch horses in action at rodeos and horse shows. But I also closely observe the way light falls on many different objects in many different conditions. I especially like the 'magical golden hour' just before sunset that can transform any subject into something ethereal."
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Nancy Davidson oil, "Movers and Shakers." |
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Nancy Davidson oil, "Red Sky Stallion." |
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This artist is as eloquent in her words as in her paintings. No wonder she's so acclaimed.
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To view more of Nancy Davidson's art and/or purchase a piece, visit her website, www.ndavidson.com or email her directly, NancyJDavidson@aol.com.
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Read comments or post your own comments to this article at the bottom of this page. |
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About the Author: M. Y. Mim is a free-lance journalist based in Santa Barbara, Ca. She may be reached at mymim3@cox.net, or through her agent R. Almqvist, 805-705-5349, http://web.mac.com/macmym. The author wishes to thank Mr. Almqvist for his assistance in making this article possible. |
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Copyright © 2008 All rights reserved. The above article is the property of the Author and may not be duplicated or redistributed in any way without permission. |
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Reader comments for this article |
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Name: Esther Rawson Time: 2008-05-03 21:05:30
Comment: WOW!!! I love Nancy Davidsons art. Pretty amazing. Keep up the awesome work!
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