David Gray, visual artist, (not to be confused with David Gray, recording artist) is a contemporary figure and still life painter in The Classical Realist Tradition. A Northwest local, David Gray, received his Bachelors of Fine Art right here in Washington at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma.
We had the pleasure of hosting David at our recent Open House. During the weekend, he conducted a portrait demo of a model. His painting demonstration lasted about 5 hours.
David started with a small color study before he launched into his serious work. The color study is the image on the right in the picture below.
Already an award-winning artist, one of David’s portraits of a young girl named Hannah has just won the Silver Medal Award in this year’s Oil Painters of America Western Region Exhibition.
As an art instructor, David tells his students, "Take every opportunity to draw/paint from life. Try not to get too frustrated with perceived failures. Learn everything you can and you will improve loads. If you are still struggling, take a workshop or two. I know I have done that, and with great results. Choose your instructor carefully and you will not feel your time and money have been wasted."
You certainly won't be disappointed if you take a class from David. We are pleased that he will be returning to teach a 3-day workshop at Whidbey Island Fine Art Studio next month. His class “Painting the Portrait from Life” will focus on the head.
