Richard Thomas Davis, “65 Volvo” (2012-13)
I truly love so many styles of art, but photo-like realism in painting is a style that often leaves me speechless by the skill and patience required of the artist to achieve such exceptional detail and still add that extra emotional touch to a scene that painting brings to the table. I recently came upon the work of Richard Thomas Davis, an American born artist who is now a Canadian citizen living in Nova Scotia. Davis’s choice of subject matter is terrific and captures bits and pieces of life in small town Canada. I particularly like that while his images are nicely composed and perfectly rendered many of them incorporate elements of wear and tear and slight decay, each suggesting the passage and ravages of time and the living of life.
More of his works can be seen at Davis’s website here and at Toronto’s Odon Wagner Gallery and Halifax’s Studio 21 Gallery.
“Storm Doors” (2010-11)
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“Red Dot” (1995)
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“Hallway” (1994-96)
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“Cold Front” (1974-76)
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“4:30” (2010-11)
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Wonderful. I appreciate this, very much.
🙂
Wonderful photographs; very personal. I’ll definitely check out the Odon Wagner gallery here in toronto. Thank you for posting!
Richard, these are paintings! 🙂
Thank you for sharing Richard Thomas Davis’ (superlatives can not express my awe and appreciation) works. I have never seen/known of his paintings and am so grateful for finding his inspiring and humbling paintings. His work epitomizes everything I am attempting to accomplish in my own primitive watercolors.
Nancy, it’s always nice to see how different artists tackle similar subject matter.
These are wonderful, Brett! 🙂
🙂
Just incredible! I have the utmost respect for photo-realists. Such skill!
Yes, really amazing!
Thank you for introducing me to his work. These paintings are simply stunning.
🙂
Beautiful!
The simplicity of his subject matter is quite nice as well.
Yes, absolutely! Thanks for sharing this!
Carolina, thanks!
This is terrific word! Thanks for the post.
🙂
Terrific work. Not word. Sorry.
What a great tribute. Thanks for introducing me to this artist.
Dan, thanks for stopping by. 🙂
very Norman Rockwell-ish if Norm was a Cnuck. Nice post
Indeedy!
I’m speechless at the realism of the paintings. Anyone glancing at them would swear they were exceptional photos. Amazing talent! Thanks for sharing.
Very true! I’m an okay photographer and I came across Davis while looking for some photography inspirations.
Reblogged this on The Man of Letters and commented:
Like this collection.
🙂
Blimey! They are quite, quite incredible.
(Love the “blimey” part!)
Crikey! What an extraordinarily talented artist. He must have buckets of patience, as well as that creativity burning in him. Now, I want to go and read his life story.
Crikey, indeed! 🙂
Thanks for once again bringing to my attention a fine, skilled artist whose work I did not know. So much that is lovely gets missed, even as so much more is accessible through the Net.
That’s very true!
I love “Cold Front.” It evokes several different memories at once! I love art that looks like real life.
Kerbey, I’m with you on all that!
The emotions of antiquity.
wow
Remarkable. Thanks for posting
🙂
The house in the forefront of ominous clouds, yet a light shining inside gave me the feeling of “home.” The well-worn floors had the feel of children scampering happily around time-worn adults. And my favorite was the bedroom. Simplicity…
All good reasons to like those images — the best art conjures up some things.
Just thought you might find this amusing. A few years ago my husband and I were living on the base in Trenton, Ontario (8 Wing). He’s an officer in the Canadian Military and was PMC of the Mess at the time. Some Junior officers found some old oil paintings under a pile of old hockey jerseys in the Mess. After a closer look they made out the signature. The paintings were two Fred Varley originals. How much more Canadian can you get than finding Group of Seven paintings under hockey sweaters, eh?.
By the way they hung up the art work at the Mess.
Oh, that’s a very cool story! And, also fittingly Canadian, as you suggest! Thanks for sharing that.
i used to have a Carl Brenders print… but these are exquisite!!!!
They are! 🙂
Amazing! I’m stunned that these are paintings…
Yes — they’re pretty amazing!
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