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.