Raised in
the open spaces of West Texas, I remember a love of nature and a desire to explore
the land at a young age. I have vivid memories of awe for the big sky and
endless fields, of anticipation when we’d travel through the Caprock
Escarpment, and of reverence when seeing a dust-filtered West Texas sunset. During
a family road trip when I was about nine, I sat on an overlook at Palo Duro
Canyon, overwhelmed at the beauty in front of me and knowing with certainty
that nature was by design. Even earlier, I remember total happiness in having
a sharpened pencil in my grip and paper at its point.
I never entertained studying art as a career, instead turning toward teaching and law as degrees with more clearly defined career outcomes. After I married, I turned toward black and white photography as a hobby, first taking photos of the landscape, then of our three daughters, and learning much about composition and light in the process. It wasn’t until 2007 that I decided to pursue a lifelong curiosity and learn to paint. I quickly found that painting brought all of my interests and skills together and inspired that bit of my soul I’d left dormant for so long.
I never entertained studying art as a career, instead turning toward teaching and law as degrees with more clearly defined career outcomes. After I married, I turned toward black and white photography as a hobby, first taking photos of the landscape, then of our three daughters, and learning much about composition and light in the process. It wasn’t until 2007 that I decided to pursue a lifelong curiosity and learn to paint. I quickly found that painting brought all of my interests and skills together and inspired that bit of my soul I’d left dormant for so long.
My adoration of the outdoors, drawing, photography, writing, even law--all
of it has a place in painting. The rush of excitement I feel from composing a painting
outdoors and of capturing nature's beauty and dynamic character energizes me. I’m
constantly learning, and am meeting fascinating artists and collectors along the way. I’ve kept a
steady and methodical pace, challenging myself to improve and refine my skills in
order to elegantly demonstrate my respect for our landscape on canvas.
Davis has painted professionally since 2010. Her work is available at Davis Gallery in Austin, Texas (no relation) and Gallery 330 in Fredericksburg, TX; smaller works are occasionally available through this blog. She and her husband, Ben, have three daughters, and live in Austin.
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Education:
2007-2010 Coursework, Austin Museum of Art
1991-1994 Juris Doctor, Baylor Law School
1987-1991 BS in Education, Baylor University
Gallery Representation:
Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
Publications:
Southwest Art, September 2017, Editor's Pick for Artists to Watch
Publications:
Southwest Art, September 2017, Editor's Pick for Artists to Watch
Honors and Awards:
2019 Best of Show, American Impressionist Society / Southwest Art Central Park Plein Air Paintout Wet Wall Competition, New York, NY
2018 Distinguished Achievement Award for Landscape, Seascape, or Cityscape, Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2017 Award of Excellence, American Women Artists National Members' Show and Juried Exhibition, Tucson Desert Art Museum, Tucson, AZ
2017 Judge, Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event, Kerrville, TX
2017 Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase
2015 Award of Merit, American Women Artists' Spring Online Show
2014 Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase
2014 Best of Show and Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence - Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event, Kerrville, TX
2013 Best of Show and Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence - Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event, Kerrville, TX
Exhibitions and Juried Shows:
2019 Best of Show, American Impressionist Society / Southwest Art Central Park Plein Air Paintout Wet Wall Competition, New York, NY
2018 Distinguished Achievement Award for Landscape, Seascape, or Cityscape, Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum, Stockton, CA
2017 Award of Excellence, American Women Artists National Members' Show and Juried Exhibition, Tucson Desert Art Museum, Tucson, AZ
2017 Judge, Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event, Kerrville, TX
2017 Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase
2015 Award of Merit, American Women Artists' Spring Online Show
2014 Honorable Mention, Oil Painters of America Fall Online Showcase
2014 Best of Show and Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence - Kerrville Outdoor Painter's Event, Kerrville, TX
2013 Best of Show and Plein Air Magazine Award of Excellence - Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event, Kerrville, TX
Exhibitions and Juried Shows:
2020 Oil Painters of America Virtual Salon Show, OPA
2020 Oil Painters of America Virtual Western Regional Exhibition, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2020 American Impressionist Society’s 21st Annual National Juried Exhibition, Illume Gallery of Fine Art, St. George, UT
2020 Oil Painters of America 29th Annual National Juried Exhibition, RSHanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
2020 Making Their Mark: American Women Artists at the Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA
2019 Looking Out, Looking In, Winter Group Show, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2019 Smaller Works Show, Frame of Reference Gallery, Whitefish, MT
2019 American Women Artists Lifetime Signature and Master Members' Show,RS Hanna Gallery, Fredericksburg, TX
2019 20th National Exhibition of the American Impressionist Society, Salmagundi Club, New York, NY
2019 Landscape Today 1st Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Paintings, Harrison Center, Indianapolis, IN
2019 Big Pink Blanket of Love, Group Show, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2019 American Impressionist Society's 3rd Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petosky, MI
2018 33rd Annual Bosque Art Classic, Bosque Arts Center, Clifton, TX
2018 Oil Painters of America National Show and Juried Exhibition, The Steamboat Art Museum, Steamboat Springs, CO
2018 Oil Painters of America Salon Show Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Crooked Tree Arts Center, Traverse City, MI
2018 Full Sun: American Women Artists Illuminate the Haggin Museum
2018 American Impressionist Society's 2nd Annual Impressions Small Works Showcase, Cincinnati, OH
2018 In Depth, Davis Gallery Winer Group Show, Austin, TX
2017 Radiant, Davis Gallery Summer Show, Austin, TX
2017 Oil Painters of America Summer Online Showcase, Honorable Mention
2017 American Women Artists' National Members' Show and Juried Exhibition, Tucson Desert Art Museum, Tucson, AZ
2017 2017 American Women Artists Spring Online Show
2017 18th National Exhibition of the American Impressionist Society, Montgomery-Lee Fine Art, Park City, UT
2017 American Impressionist Society Inaugural Small Works Showcase and National Juried Exhibition, Randy Higbee Gallery, Costa Mesa, CA
2016 A Feeling of Humanity, Ken Ratner Collection, Museum of the Big Bend, Alpine, TX
2016 American Women Artists 2016 National Juried Exhibition, Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2016 Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils, Castle Gallery of Fine Art, Fort Wayne, IN
2016 American Women Artists Spring Online Juried Show
2015 Tiny Treasures Show, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2015 A Feeling of Humanity: Ken Ratner Collection, Bone Creek Museum of Agrarian Art, David City, NE
2015 Oil Painters of America Juried Salon Show of Traditional Oils, Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2015 American Women Artists 2015 National Juried Exhibition & Annual Member's Show, Bonner David Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ
2015 16th National Exhibition of the American Impressionist Society, Trailside Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ
2015 There's a Summer Place We Can Go, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX2014 Holiday Group Show at Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2014 Plein Air Austin at Chase Bandk Corridor of Arts, Austin, TX
2014 5 x 7 The Contemporary Invitational at the Jones Center, Austin, TX
2013 There's No Place Like Home, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2013 Holiday Group Show, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2012 Kerrville Outdoor Painters' Event Show, Kerr Arts and Cultural Center, Kerrville, TX
2012 Chase Bank Corridor of Arts Juried Show, Plein Air Austin, Austin, TX
2012 Works On Paper, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2012 Holiday Group Show, Davis Gallery, Austin, TX
2011 Plein Air Austin Juried Show, Chase Bank Corridor of Arts, Austin, TX
2011 ON SITE: The Appeal of the Real, Davis Gallery, three-person show, Austin, TX
2011 Wendow Fine Living, three-person show, Austin, TX
2010 Wendow Fine Living, Austin, TX
2010 Wendow Fine Living, Austin, TX
2010 Plein Air Austin Juried Show, Bass Concert Hall, University of Texas, Austin, TX
2010 Plein Air Exhibition Juried Show, MSC Forsyth Galleries, Texas A & M University, Bryan, TX
2009 Twenty-Four: Points of View, Weisinger's Winery, Ashland, OR
2009 What Texas Means To Me, Austin Art Space, Austin, TX
2009 Twenty-Four: Points of View, Weisinger's Winery, Ashland, OR
2009 What Texas Means To Me, Austin Art Space, Austin, TX
2009 Plein Air Austin Juried Show, Chase Bank Corridor of Arts, Austin, TX
2009 For the Love of Art, Austin Art Space, Austin, TX
2008 12 Buy 12, Austin Art Space, Austin, TX
2008 Reflections/Refractions in Still Life, Gatehouse Gallery, Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
2008 For the Love of Art, Artspoken Gallery, Austin, TX
2007 12 Buy 12, Artspoken Gallery, Austin, TX
Memberships and Affiliations:
American Impressionist Society - Signature member
American Women Artists - Signature Member
Oil Painters of America - Associate member
Plein Air Austin - Artist Member
American Women Artists - Signature Member
Oil Painters of America - Associate member
Plein Air Austin - Artist Member
Outdoor Painter's Society - Associate member