Reston Art Gallery and Studios (RAGS)

About the Artist

Born in Brooklyn, New York, I began as a commercial artist chasing deadlines with sketches of summer dresses and silk pajamas. Escaping from Long Island, my love of watercolor surfaced in Ran Francisco. Teachers at Canada College and Berkley stirred excitement with design and shapes. My azaleas landed me in the Stary-Sheets' Gallery and started my relationship with watercolorist Millard Sheets. (I assisted Millard with a mural in Lubbock, Texas.) Another move brought me to Santa Barbara, with its arches, bougainvillea, and the Art Association's outdoor shows. My work is at the Medlin Gallery, Leesburg. I'm a member of the LRA, and a member of the Art League. I have studio space at RAGS in Reston. My Internet site, www.awss.com, has a juried show, painting resources, and recent work. In my recent oil painting series, Studies In Light, I've tried to acknowledge a darker side. It's subtle, but when it works, I can hear Humphrey Bogart mumbling in the next room.

Artist Statement:
"...The tone of traditional oil painting has caught my attention. The Dutch Masters were my first exposure to the affect. Their oil paintings focused on still-life images set against deeply layered backgrounds. Contrast was subtle; colors were rich. I wanted to give the medium a try.  Several months of experiments and practice resulted in a series of 'wrapped' fruit oil paintings. The fruit provided simplicity and the wraps introduced complexity. The layers background set a serious tone. My excitement stirred – I was on the right path. I hung the paintings near the dinner table. Several days later, sitting down for an early dinner, I noticed the pull of the images. It was about five o’clock and the light was beginning to dim. The paintings, a pair of wrapped lemons and oranges, captured the fading light and returned it with surreal glow. Later, under the indirect light from lamps across the room, the paintings continued to attract my attention. On top of that they set mood which was at once comforting, powerful and elegant…"

Media

Watercolors/Oils

Contact

Email: jaddavis@netzero.net

Website

www.awss.com

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