WORK STATEMENT
I explore modernist inspired subject matter through shape, color and figuration positioned within a contemporary context. The visual dialogue that develops between the two is often times unexpected, whimsical, even volatile occurrences that continually fuel my interest.
My works on paper and small paintings are studies that are intended to be details – quick and energetic. I am interested in the immediacy of the gestures, the integration of collage and paint, conveying personality and emotion through color, movement and the idiosyncratic qualities of the blind contour figure drawings.
In recent works I have explored populated environments with open-ended narratives that began when I revisited a stack of figure drawings I had saved from art school. I began collaging them to canvas, using them as the starting point for building a painting. With paint, I have tapped imaginary environments that include abstracted references to landscape, furniture and other man-made structures. These scenes are staged and fanciful. Through color and loose, fluid brush strokes juxtaposed with simplified shapes, I have created the building blocks for a playful if not fully understandable narrative.
Currently, I am exploring color, space and paint without the additional layer of collaged drawings. I am interested in skirting the line between beauty and raw expression. The more intense use of color is both pleasing and askew. I am focused on themes with decorative leanings, which I proceed to work over, to push and pull out of their comfortably pretty existences to form something more free and energetic. I am interested in the familiarity I feel for this transformation.
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My works on paper and small paintings are studies that are intended to be details – quick and energetic. I am interested in the immediacy of the gestures, the integration of collage and paint, conveying personality and emotion through color, movement and the idiosyncratic qualities of the blind contour figure drawings.
In recent works I have explored populated environments with open-ended narratives that began when I revisited a stack of figure drawings I had saved from art school. I began collaging them to canvas, using them as the starting point for building a painting. With paint, I have tapped imaginary environments that include abstracted references to landscape, furniture and other man-made structures. These scenes are staged and fanciful. Through color and loose, fluid brush strokes juxtaposed with simplified shapes, I have created the building blocks for a playful if not fully understandable narrative.
Currently, I am exploring color, space and paint without the additional layer of collaged drawings. I am interested in skirting the line between beauty and raw expression. The more intense use of color is both pleasing and askew. I am focused on themes with decorative leanings, which I proceed to work over, to push and pull out of their comfortably pretty existences to form something more free and energetic. I am interested in the familiarity I feel for this transformation.
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MY STORY
I started making artwork when I was a small girl. My mom was an artist and she taught me throughout my childhood. I discovered just how much I loved painting in art school during the late 1980's. I was further influenced by a pivotal show I saw at the World Tattoo Gallery in Chicago just after graduating. The exhibition featured Wesley Kimler, Ed Paschke and Tony Fitzpatrick. Their paintings were heroic and I was hooked.
My devotion to art was soon rivaled by my long-standing affair with alcohol. It was my constant companion. I used alcohol to medicate my anxiety, alleviate boredom and fuel creativity. My disease progressed until finally the medicine quit working and I bottomed out. My marriage ended, I was barely able to work and I discovered that I was addicted. Living without alcohol terrified me. Creating artworks sober seemed unthinkable. I entered treatment lonely and shaky. It felt like my life was unsalvageable at age 34.
I have been sober and healing mentally, physically and spiritually for over 7 years now. The drive to create has returned. I have learned how to pray and am astonished to see the spirit of love working in my life today. Pain is undeniably part of my makeup, but so is joy. My life had dwindled to a tiny spark when I was at my lowest, but it never went out. I now see this as a testament of God's care for me. All of these experiences are constantly sorting themselves out through my work. My paintings are truly an integration of all my parts.
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My devotion to art was soon rivaled by my long-standing affair with alcohol. It was my constant companion. I used alcohol to medicate my anxiety, alleviate boredom and fuel creativity. My disease progressed until finally the medicine quit working and I bottomed out. My marriage ended, I was barely able to work and I discovered that I was addicted. Living without alcohol terrified me. Creating artworks sober seemed unthinkable. I entered treatment lonely and shaky. It felt like my life was unsalvageable at age 34.
I have been sober and healing mentally, physically and spiritually for over 7 years now. The drive to create has returned. I have learned how to pray and am astonished to see the spirit of love working in my life today. Pain is undeniably part of my makeup, but so is joy. My life had dwindled to a tiny spark when I was at my lowest, but it never went out. I now see this as a testament of God's care for me. All of these experiences are constantly sorting themselves out through my work. My paintings are truly an integration of all my parts.
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT JUNE/JULY 2009
THE SHOWROOM, Davis Art Advisory
June 6th- EXTENDED through July 31st, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday June 6th, 6-9 p.m.
75 Arcade, between 4th and 5th Avenues
Nashville Tennessee
view artworks
for more information visit the Sera Davis Website
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June 6th- EXTENDED through July 31st, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday June 6th, 6-9 p.m.
75 Arcade, between 4th and 5th Avenues
Nashville Tennessee
view artworks
for more information visit the Sera Davis Website
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT MAY-JUNE 2009
From Scratch
May 1 - June 20, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Reception Friday May 8th from 6-9 PM.
GALLERY HOURS: M - F: 10-6 PM, Sat: 10-5 PM
Chicago Art Source Gallery
1871 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
(free parking across the street)
view artworks
for more information visit the Chicago Art Source website
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT FEBRUARY 2009
Frozen Emotive
February 1-28, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday February 6th, 6-9pm.
GALLERY HOURS: Wed-Sat 12-7pm
Robert Wayner/Black Walnut Gallery
West Loop Fulton Market Gallery District
220 N. Aberdeen
Chicago, IL 60607
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT OCTOBER 2008
Around the Coyote Fall Arts Festival
October 17-19, 2008
OPENING RECEPTION: Friday October 17th.
Plumbers Hall
1340 West Washington
West Loop, Chicago
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT JUNE 2008
Sera Davis Art Advisory
The Showroom Grand Opening
June 3rd- June 30th, 2008
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday June 7th, 6-9 p.m.
75 Arcade, between 4th and 5th Avenues
Nashville Tennessee
for more information visit the Sera Davis Website
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EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENT APRIL 2008
THE ARTIST PROJECT
at Artropolis
Exhibition Dates: April 25-28, 2008
Preview Opening Thursday April 24th from 6-9 p.m.
Location:
Merchandise Mart, 8th Floor
Booth no. 4121
Chicago
Running concurrently with Art Chicago™, The Artist Project is an exhibition and sale featuring original work from cutting-edge artists undiscovered by the gallery community. The Artist Project is a great opportunity to discover and obtain interesting and affordable art directly from this uniquely talented group of artists.
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