Sunday, July 17th
Monthaven Art Society was privileged to visit the studio
of renowned artist, David Wright, of Gallatin, TN.
He is an historical authority, a published author,
a consultant for television and movie productions,
and an amazing painter of historic figures
and scenarios, many of enormous proportions.
HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR VISIT...
David Wright's studio has a extensive library of art and history books, as well as a wide variety of historic artifacts, frontier props, and civil war items. He is a realist, painting in a detailed style reflective of historical painters. He commented that you do not usually see the impressionist style in historical art. He talked about his studio set up which includes a very large drafting table, most often used in the vertical position. In his large work area, he is able to spread out photos, drawings and 'tissue' paper layers in order to work out complex compositions. He uses a cane as a mahl stick* and demonstrated how handy and stable it is as you hook the top over your easel and slide as needed. He showed us a reproduction of a historic mahl stick used in a PBS program he worked on, given to him as a gift after the production was completed. He rarely uses this traditional type mahl stick.
He answered questions regarding his subject matter and setting up models. He named several Native American models he uses and how he went about setting up the subjects for "The Captives" using his canoe and props. He photographed them down at Bledsoe Creek, taking many, many photos. He commented on the convenience of digital photography and the ability to shoot hundreds of images versus traditional film cameras used forty years ago when he was an illustrator.
He was asked about his choice of paint surfaces. He worked on 1/8" thick Masonite for years, cutting, sanding, and applying many layers of gesso to the panels. Now he uses Ampersand Gesso Panels, finding them more economical and certainly less labor intensive. They are also much lighter and more suitable for his paintings.
He talked about his lighting... three narrow sky lights and two 4 light wrap around fluorescent fixtures. He said that if he could do it over, he would install wider sky lights as the narrow ones do not give consistent, even lighting.
When asked about his daily routine, he said that he usually works on business matters in the morning and paints in the afternoons. In the evenings, he mostly draws and works on composition.
He asked how many in the group were full time artists and commented he felt honored to have so many come out on a hot day, a few from as far away as Clarksville, to see his work and studio. He invited us to see his beautiful home and grounds. The front yard is like an English garden and the back is a rushing creek with waterfalls and terraces full of beautiful landscaping which he and his wife maintain.
As we walked out to our cars he commented on how nice it had been to be with other artists as our work can be so solitary. We thanked him for inspiring and encouraging forty artists. It was a lovely day!
* MAHL STICK: A long stick used by a painter to support the hand holding the brush… traditionally wood, often with leather covering the end which rests on the painting. Also useful when measuring and painting straight lines.
to see David Wright's artwork go to www.davidwrightart.com
Tour of David Wright's
studio
