Drawing in Progress

Jimmy is our model for the Satureday Portrait Class that I teach at the GCA. A special thank you to Colleen, our model coordinator, for finding us a Roman God with a heart of gold. Who knew they walk amongst us these days. The pose is so stunning and his expression is so intense that I simply had to postpone my current projects and draw along with my students for this 8 session pose.

I have wanted to do a painting of the warrior Jason for a long time. Jimmy looks so much like the part, I am using this pose in a narrative piece as well; a painting about Jason, Medea and the golden fleece, pics to come soon.

The pictures thus far were taken day one, day three and day five.A long way to go yet, but a very fun project! Enjoy

New Painting The Dream Catcher

Preliminary Sketch

The Dream catcher

My model for this painting was a young Navajo woman in traditional Navajo dress. In this painting I was playing with the idea of the Dream Catcher as a woman collecting and dispersing dreams and wishes into the wind. The Navajo have many legends and stories of the dream catcher. Some stories say the night air is filled with good and bad dreams, and the dream catcher is used to catch dreams as they float by. Good dreams will find the center hole in the dream catcher, slip through, then slide down the feather. Bad dreams will get tangled in the webbing and fade as a new day begins to dawn.

Painting available at The Classical Arts Studio

http://classical-arts-studio.com/

Portrait workshop

Pictures from last Summer's workshop, including "Oliver" our little studio mascot.

For additional info on GCA summer workshops contact: The Grand Central Academy of Art

Portrait Drawing and Painting • Camie Davis
July 19 - 30 (10 days)
$1150
Class open, accepting registrations.

In this ten day work shop students will complete a thoughtfully rendered and highly refined portrait painting with interior. We will be working with the same model three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with a one hour lunch break in between giving us sixty hours of model time over the course of the workshop. All students will start off rendering a preliminary block in sketch in graphite with a focus on accuracy and likeness. Beginning students will be encouraged to continue rendering their portrait in pencil , with the additional option of toned paper and white chalk. Advanced students may transfer their drawings to canvas and proceed with a full color portrait. The main focus of this work shop will be on providing a solid and accurate foundation with your drawing to then take further with naturalistic flesh tones and an understanding of light on form. Additional discussions on color, composition, poster studies, and aesthetics will also be offered. All steps will be previewed through instructor demonstrations.

Patrons of The Arts

"There will never be great architects or great architecture without great patrons. ~ Sir Edwin Lutyens"

-For the Fine Arts as well - Thank You To Claudia and Eric Stengel, True Patrons of the Arts

Nashville Arts Magazine

Beautifully written article in this month's Nashville Arts magazine by Eric Stengel; brilliant classical architect, my gallery owner and a true patron of the arts.Thank you so much Eric. It is quite a treat to see ones own work in glossy print.

www.ericstengelarchitecture.com

nashvilleartsmagazine.com Andy's Gift

...........“ We believe that the world of visual art is built upon the essential cornerstones of figurative drawing, painting, and sculpture. Mastering these disciplines is critical to the development of an artist’s personal vision and, ultimately, to the creation of vital contemporary art.”

When asked by contemporaries and critics why he would do such an odd thing, being the pop iconoclast master of all time, he simply said, “If you teach a generation how to paint the way the masters did, you will change the art world.”..........

The Death of Ariadne

Ariadne fell in love with Dionysus, the god of wine, (Bacchus is the Roman equivilant) when he found her abandoned on the island of Crete. They were married and lived happily until Dionysus went to war with Perseus at Argos, who had slain Medusa and wore her severed head on his sheild. Durring the battle Ariadne stayed by her husbands side and was turned to stone by Perseus who was aiming for Dionysus. It is said that on her wedding day Ariadne was given a golden crown by the goddess Aphrodite and when Ariadne was turned to stone Dionysus threw the crown into the heavens where it remains today as the constellation Corona Borealis. I painted in the ivy leaves as an ode to Aphrodite's gift.

Available at John Pence Gallery San Francisco

http://www.johnpence.com/visuals/painters/index_trompe.htm

Narcissus & Mythology

Mythology

"If no other knowledge deserves to be called useful but that which helps to enlarge our possessions or to raise our station in society, then mythology has no claim to the appellation. But if that which tends to make us happier and better can be called useful then we claim that epithet for our subject. For mythology is the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the best allies of virtue and promoters of happiness." - Bullfinches Mythology

Inspiration for Narcissus

Narcissus was a creation of the Gods. He was a beautiful, strong, powerful and graceful man. These gifts could have moved mountains yet they went unused and were instead replaced with self obsession. This obsession blinded him to the beauty in the world and to his own true potential. It tainted his reality so deeply that his reflection became a physical reality, his self destruction.

Narcissus Painting & Drawings

I recently completed this drawing and painting of Narcissus. The drawing has been sold. The Painting is available for purchase through The Classical Arts Studio.

http://classical-arts-studio.com/camiedavis.html

Enjoy!