Norman Davis, James Courtenay James and Judith Paul are the featured artists during the month of July at River Gallery. The three artists will be honored with an opening reception on Friday, July 6, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the gallery, 400 E. Second St.
Davis says in his artist's statement that he began drawing at age 6. A high-school summer class in drafting when he was 13, followed by three additional years of drafting classes, was a defining point in his education. He received an associate's degree in pre-engineering from Cleveland State Community College.
As a professional in 3-D CAD, he spent 12 years in mold design, prototyping, creating art in 3-D models and facilitating virtual thermodynamics and computational-flow dynamics. Those skills broadened his 3-D vision and understanding of the natural environment, helping him transition into full-time artist.
Davis uses charcoal powder to create monochrome portraits that celebrate the spirit. In this body of work, each portrait bears a star the subject drew on his/her face as a symbol of individuality and connectivity.
James' portrait technique draws on European oil painting.
"First a monochromatic underpainting establishes composition, form and value. Over this base, layers of transparent and opaque color glazes build depth and luminosity," he describes.
Strokes of color build layers of narrative into James' oil paintings, capturing the vibrancy of the people and places from scenes of a recent trip to Europe.
Paul began studying art while at Western Michigan University in the late 1960s. She also attended Kendall College of Art and Design and the University of Tennessee in the late 1980s.
She studied at the Studio Arte Del Mosaico in Ravenna, Italy, in 1999.
Her latest group of abstract paintings address her personal feelings about the emotions of youth suicide.