brian davis
The old adage, “Art imitates life”, could not be a more true
description of how profound and true Brian Davis’ work is. Known for his special attention to light and detail, Mr. Davis’ primary subjects are
florals and landscapes.
Born in California in 1946, Brian Davis was raised by musician parents to appreciate all things
artistic, and true to his upbringing he has always loved painting. Art is his passion. It is the
muse with which he creates his colorful true to life florals.
Although magnificent flowers and landscapes are the main choice for his compositions, Mr.
Davis explains, "The actual job of making an arresting piece of art has nothing to do with what
the thing is." Mr. Davis transforms exquisite blossoms like roses, calla lilies, and dahlias into
romantic, compelling images with sharpness, color, movement, edge and light.
Before he begins his masterpieces, Mr. Davis spends extensive time researching and scouting
for a flower or scene that catches his eye. He carries a camera everywhere so he can shoot a
subject at any moment. Since flowers wilt so quickly, and it can take weeks to complete a
painting, he has found a way to create a floral image from a series of different shots for each
flower. He may not do an exact botanical rendering and changes colors and leaves at will.
Mr. Davis believes that the depth in his art is derived from paying attention to the subtle shifts
in value - relative dark and light. He is often asked if there is a light source behind his paintings.
"The light is the real subject of my work. The flower is the stage, the light is the dancer." Using
two hanging mirrors to view the unfinished painting at all angles, he works daily in his studio
surrounded by books, music, and historical videos.
Mr. Davis is a true artist with vast understanding and knowledge of art. "My art, like all art, is at
its core a form of communication that is not easily translated into words - good art transcends
words." It is his hope that viewers look at his works and respond, for then they are hearing his
voice, understanding his concept of what is worth creating. His paintings are a fascinating
group of images that allow the viewer to feel and recognize the nature of light - the essence
of a Brian Davis painting.
One of the greatest achievements in Mr. Davis’ career has been his commissioned work for
The Huntington Library Art Collections and Botanical Gardens. Over the last 20 years, the floral
painting expert has created seven pieces that have been used as posters to commemorate
different exhibitions at The Huntington. His seventh piece, “Captivating Cattleya” was most
different exhibitions at The Huntington. His seventh piece, “Captivating Cattleya” was most
recently used in October 2005 for the “Orchids: A Natural Obsession” exhibit.
Mr. Davis’ work can be found in the permanent collection of The Huntington Library, The Los
Angeles County Museum of Art, and the New York Botanical Garden.
Brian Davis’ publishing company, Collectors Editions, is a global art publishing company
dedicated to providing the highest quality fine art and services available in the industry.
Founded in 1986, they are also the exclusive global publisher of Disney Fine Art. Home to
Eclipse Workshop, whose master printers are specialists in fusing traditional print-making with
cutting-edge process, Collectors Editions is painting a better canvas for the art world…one
brush stroke at a time.
White and Magenta
