Barbara Davies

My recent series of oil paintings reflects my love of California’s wild places.  I begin by creating on site sketches and small plein air paintings, choosing locations that are off the beaten-path, often reached by horseback, or by hiking, kayaking or off-roading. I use these reference materials to develop the paintings in my Loomis studio.  Using old-world techniques, I apply thin layers of  oil paint,  layer upon layer, striving to capture the transparency of the water in Sierra Mountains streams and lakes, or the light sifting through a forest canopy.  Each painting, typically large in scale, takes several weeks to complete, as each layer must dry before the next is applied.   I pay close attention to detail, light and shadow, striving for each painting to convey the beauty that I see and feel while in the California landscape.  A percentage from the sale of each painting is dedicated to land conservation and wild life protection and management.

After several years in the internet industry, I returned to art college to pursue my childhood dream of becoming an artist. I hike, kayak or horseback ride to locations off the beaten track, where I paint plein air and take photos, recently in the Sierras. I use old world methods of painting in thin layers, striving for a luminous effect. I hope my work inspired viewers to pause and reflect, and to notice the world around them.