If you go
› What: Artist talk and demo with James Courtenay James and Norman Davis.› When: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, July 21.› Where: River Gallery, 400 E. Second St.› Phone: 423-265-5033.› Online: www.river-gallery.com.
A portrait is not just a picture of a face. Two artists whose works are on view this month at River Gallery say they tell stories through the portraits they create.
On Saturday, James Courtenay James and Norman Davis will share some of the secrets of their visual storytelling and then paint or draw each other's portraits.
James, a professional artist of over 50 years, compares his portraits to a short story.
At age 73, he's been drawing since he was a child, he says.
"I'm trying to capture a moment in time that lets the viewer know something about the subject's life," he says.
Davis, who turned 41 on Friday, says he's been painting since age 6. He wants his paintings to make people think.
"I hope they experience beauty and see the beauty in each other," he says. "And for the people I make portraits of, I hope they see the beauty in themselves."
His goal is to show beauty beyond the surface to reflect a person's inner spirit, he says.
Both artists have portraits on display at the gallery until the end of the month. James is showcasing oil paintings on canvas, while Davis has charcoal and colored chalk on paper. A third artist featured this month, Judith Paul, has her latest group of abstract paintings that express her personal journey through the emotions of youth suicide.
The event with James and Davis starts at 1 p.m. with Davis giving a 30-minute talk about the history and future of portraiture. Then James will discuss different techniques he uses for some of the pieces he has in the show. The talks will include time for questions and answers.
Assistant gallery director Angie Supan says this is the gallery's latest effort to create a love of art in everybody, even people who've never visited a gallery.
"Our whole philosophy is to engage and teach," she says.
She encourages visitors to see the art and meet the artists before their presentation starts.
"They can come early, hang out for a bit, learn a little bit and even see a live process demonstration," she says.
After their talks, James and Davis will create portraits of each other to give an on-the-spot show of their work.
People who enjoy people watching and storytelling will probably enjoy this event, says James.
"It's visually stimulating," he says. "It's something our minds can be active with like a short story or novel. We all love stories."
Contact Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6431.