Painter Sally Davies Takes a Global View

Global Views: Light and Shadow
paintings by Sally Davies
July 6–August 6, 2017
Opening reception: Thursday, July 13, 6:30–8:00 pm
Artist demo: Saturday, July 22, 2:00 pm

How would you describe the perspective in these paintings?

“Bird’s-eye” is a phrase that comes to mind. The high point of view, along with the long shadows and warm light, creates a sense of drama.

But there’s something more to the perspective in this series by Sally Davies.

Whether shopping, museum-going, or just crossing the street, the figures in these paintings come from all over the world. The underlying subject, regardless of place, is the common bond of humanity. “Global Views” asks the viewer to take a step back — past the bird’s eye view, even — and consider a worldwide perspective.

In Sally Davies’s studio

As you can see in the videos on this page, Davies starts her paintings in an unexpected way. Abstract designs form the “underpainting,” which remains only barely visible in the finished piece.

You can see the development of one painting here:

About the artist

Davies was born in England and immigrated to Canada as a young girl. She studied illustration and graphic design at Sheridan College in Canada and has illustrated magazines, cookbooks, menus, posters, textbooks, and many children’s books. Her illustrations are done with ink line and bright watercolor washes and are very different from her fine art paintings, which tend to be looser in style.

Over the past 15 years, Davies has shifted her interest to exhibiting her fine art paintings in various galleries in the mid-Atlantic region. She’s a member of The Art League and a signature member of Baltimore Watercolor Society and the Potomac Valley Watercolorists.

“Global Views: Light & Shadow” is on view through August 6, 2017.

Free, Fun Art Events This Weekend in DC

The summer’s just begun, and there are lots of great arts and cultural events to find around DC! See some below, and let us know if we missed anything good!

(By the way — this is also the first weekend to catch our July exhibits here in the gallery!)

Helen Frankenthaler (photograph by Gordon Parks, 1956)

Friday through Monday: Helen Frankenthaler for kids

Where: The National Gallery of Art. For ages 4–7, the free program Investigate: Helen Frankenthaler explores the painter’s inspiration and process, then invites the kids to make a painting without using brushes! The whole thing takes about an hour. Artists featured later this month: Georgia O’Keeffe, Wassily Kandinsky, and Sam Gilliam.

Saturday: Edward Hopper film screening

Where: The Smithsonian American Art Museum. Shirley: Visions of Reality is a 2013 film that’s part of SAAM’s summer lineup of film screenings. The title character is an American woman living in the 1930s through the 60s, and whose story brings to life 13 different Edward Hopper paintings. Should be a fun watch for Hopper fans!

Saturday: Workhouse Art Walk

Where: Workhouse Arts Center, Lorton, VA. Each month, this artist community throws an open house of sorts known as the Second Saturday Art Walk. One of this month’s featured artists is Art Leaguer and painter Kathleen Best Gillmann!

Retablo artist Alfredo Lopez Morales demonstrated how he paints the small clay figures that go in these portable altars. (From the 2015 Folklife Festival.)

Through Sunday: Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Where: The National Mall. The 2017 edition of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival is here for just a few more days! The theme this year is Circus Arts. Do check their Twitter (and the schedule) before heading out — they were partially closed Thursday due to rain.

by Marsha Staiger

Bonus: Jumpstart in Abstraction ($195)

Where: The Art League. Looking for something a little more hands-on? This weekend (Saturday and Sunday) is our Jumpstart in Abstraction workshop with instructor Marsha Staiger. It’s designed for those with no painting experience or those who just want to learn a different approach.

You can register online, or see our full slate of Summer workshops.