Featured Artist Peggy Davis

Artist Peggy Davis presents a collection of whimsical paintings inspired by her love of color and nature. Find more of her uplifting art by visiting her website.

 

 

I started sketching and painting early on in life and had dreamed about going to University to study art, but life took over and I soon found myself married with three children. Even though I was busy taking care of little ones, I never stopped creating. I painted furniture with decorative art, painted children’s murals, faux finished kitchens and bedrooms and even designed and painted theatrical sets.

 

 

My husband and I eventually adopted three children, with special needs, out of the foster care system. With six children now in the house, I began painting on canvas in my spare minutes. When I first began, I tried everything—jumping from technique to technique.

 

 

I painted for a few years and although it took a while for it to happen, eventually my style started to emerge. When I started to gravitate toward colors, movements and subjects that I really loved, that is when I found my passion.

 

 

Many artists are intuitive painters, saying that their art seems to paint itself. I would love for that to happen for me, but I am a more practical painter. I put a lot of thought into what I am going to do.

 

 

I look for inspiration in everyday things. Once I have an idea, I begin by laying out a base coat of colors on my canvas.  After that, I put a basic sketch down, filling in each shape with more color. It’s only after the initial layout that I can begin to play with light, color, texture, layering, movement and depth. That’s where the fun happens.

 

 

However, even after I have planned out my basic design, I don’t force myself to stick to my original plan. Sometimes, my piece will evolve exactly how I intended, but other times, something a little more special happens and I stand back and say, “Yes, I love that.”

 

 

At times, I will struggle with a piece and set it aside for a week or two, or longer, out of frustration. Then one day, I look at it and say, “Ah, yes, I know exactly what you need.” Some of my best pieces sat for weeks until they were finished and came out better than when they were first planned.

 

 

I am a painter who loves bold and bright colors, gravitating toward large, flowing movement with touches of whimsy. My goal is for the observer to be able to come back with “fresh eyes” and find something new and surprising in my work that they had not seen before.

 

 

I never did make it to University to study art—I am self-taught by trial and error—so I am still surprised when someone likes what I do so much that they want to put it where they live and enjoy it as their own.

 

 

I am happy to say that I now have the honor of working with two wonderful companies that inspire me to be bigger and better with my work: McGaw Graphics and Porterfield’s Fine Art Licensing. My tag line is Live Bold, Live Bright. That’s what I hope my art inspires in its forever home.

 

Artist Peggy Davis invites you to follow her on Instagram.

 

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