Biography
David's signature style reveals a personal and contemporary expression of beauty and order which pays homage to Western European Classical Tradition in its craftsmanship. Collectors of David's work often relate that his painting evokes a sense of peace, stillness, or a contemplative mood. His award winning works have been covered by major art publications including Southwest Art, Art of the West, and American Art Collector. David also teaches several workshops per year in portraiture and still life painting throughout the United States and abroad. (See David's workshop schedule HERE.)
Fans of David's work will notice an exploration in style beginning in late 2017. This new style, while retaining the mastery of draftsmanship characteristic of earlier work, finds a new freedom of brushwork and color application. This new dialect of painting is influenced in part by Impressionist painting (both French and American) of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Forms are often suggested rather than completely rendered, though a solidly sculpted structure is still evident. David's former work communicated a stirring beauty and meditative stillness. His current painting will push that expression into a new strength of emotion through bold brushwork, inventiveness, and a new found creative conviction. Currently, collectors have the opportunity to enjoy both directions of David's multifaceted talents.
"Whether he is painting still lifes or figures, Gray brings a deep knowledge of and respect for the masters that translates into an elegant minimalism on canvas or panel. His tonalist portraits usually focus solely on the head and shoulders, while his still lifes feature timeless objects such as copper pots and china teacups surrounded by generous doses of negative space."
--Bonnie Gangelhoff, Southwest Art Magazine
"I'm not simply a "Realist". I find in my best work my subjects seem to hover somewhere between the visible natural realm and some place divine..."
--David Gray
Education and Instructors
Ten Day Figure Painting Workshop, Douglas Flynt, The Grand Central Academy of Art, New York, NY
Hans Nordlund, Tacoma Academy of Fine Art, Tacoma, WA
Terry Furchgott, Gage Academy of Art, Seattle, WA
Bachelor of Fine Art, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
Juried and Commercial Exhibitions (from 2005 and onward)
2018 107th Annual California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Outside Perspectives, Group Show, Mockingbird Gallery, Bend, OR
2017 Legacy, Group Show, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2017 27th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2017 Oil Painters of America 26th National Juried Exhibition, Eisele Gallery of Art, Cincinnati, OH
2016 Femina Mystica -- Three Person Show, Krab Jab Studio, Seattle, WA
2016 One Man Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe NM
2015 Winter Group Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015 Renaissance of Realism, Group Show, Gallery 1261, Denver, CO
2015 25th Ammual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2015 Two-Person Show, Marilyn Yates and David Gray, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2015 The Magic of Realism Group Exhibition, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2014 24th Annual Small Works Exhibition, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2014 Oil Painters of America 23rd National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2014 Windows to the Divine Invitational, Arthaus, Denver, CO
2014 "American Still Life" Group Exhibition, R.W. Norton Gallery, Shreveport, LA
2014 Salmagundi Club, Members Exhibit, New York, NY
2013 One Man Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2013 Annual Group Realism Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2012 1st Annual Figurative Group Show, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2012 Contemporary Invitational Still Life Exhibit, Spartanburg Art Museum, Spartanburg, SC
2012 "America the Beautiful" Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2012 "Artists for the New Century" Invitational, The Bennington Center for the Arts, Bennington, VT
2011 Scottsdale Fine Art Annual Holiday Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2011 American Art Invitational, Small Works, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2011 Windows to the Divine Invitational, The MADDEN Museum of Art, Greenwood Village, CO
2011 21st Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2011 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Lee Youngman Galleries, Calistoga, CA
2011 "Impressions of Fall" Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2011 Oil Painters of America 20th National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur d'Alene, ID
2011 "Impressions of Spring" Group Show, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2010 3rd Biennial American Art Invitational, Saks Galleries, Denver, CO
2010 "Champions of Realism" Group Show, Wendt Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2010 20th Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2010 "Celebrating Realism" Invitational, Museo Gallery, Langley, WA
2010 "Through the Painter's Eye" Group Realism Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2009 Annual Small Works Invitational and Sale, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 19th Annual Invitational Small Works Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2009 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2009 Cheri Christensen, Jill Soukup, and David Gray, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown, MA
2009 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 "Through the Painter's Eye" Work by Jacqueline Kamin and David Gray, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Annual Holiday Miniature Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2008 Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Devin Galleries, Coeur d'Alene, ID
2008 Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils, Dana Gallery, Missoula, MT
2007 "Small Wonders" Miniature Show, Scottsdale Fine Art, Scottsdale, AZ
2007 "Group of Six" Group Show, Kirsten Gallery, Seattle, WA
2007 "The Figure" Group Show, Eisenhauer Gallery, Edgartown, MA
2007 Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2006 Annual Invitational Miniature Show, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
2005 New Works by Douglas Fryer and David Gray, Howard/Mandville Gallery, Kirkland, WA
Awards
2017 Bronze Medal, Oil Painters of America 26th National Juried Exhibition, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
2016 John August Dietrich Memorial Figurative Award of Excellence, 25th Annual Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2014 Finalist, 2013/2014 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2012 "Chairman's Choice Award", 2011/2012 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2011 Silver Medal, OPA Western Region Juried Exhibition of Traditional Oils
2010 "Top 100 Finalist", 2009/2010 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2009 "Finalist", International Artist Magazine Challenge No. 52 - Favorite Subjects
2009 Multiple "Finalist" entries in both the Still Life and Figure categories, The Artist's Magazine 26th Annual Art Competition
2009 "Hunter Editions Award of Excellence" Oil Painters of America National Juried Exhibition, Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2009 "Chairman's Choice Award", 2008/2009 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2008 "Award of Excellence - Best Associate Member", Oil Painters of America Western Region Juried Exhibition, Devin Galleries, Coeur d'Alene, ID
2007 "Top 100 Finalist", 2007 International ARC Salon, Art Renewal Center, http://artrenewal.org
2007 "Finalist, Portrait and Figure Category", The Artist's Magazine 24th Annual Art Competition
2007 "Jury's Top 50" Salon International, International Museum of Contemporary Masters, Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2003 "Best of Show" Oil Painters of America West/Southwest/Mountain Region Juried Exhibition, Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Bibliography
2016 New Realism 2016, Contemporary Takes on the Figure
2016 April, The Artist's Magazine, Cover and feature article
2015 Fine Art Tips with Lori McNee: Painting Techniques and Professional Advice, North Light Books
2013 Davd Gray: Classical Realist, Interview, Art Book Guy
2012/13 December/January, "Strokes of Realism", Gulf Connoissuer
2011 Spring, Featured Alumnus, Scene Magazine (a quarterly publication of Pacific Lutheran University)
2011 March, "Tone Poems", Southwest Art
2009 Sept/Oct, "The Beauty of the Form", Art of the West
2009 Aug/Sept, Prize Winners for Challenge No. 52 - Favorite Subjects, International Artist
2009 May, Oil Painters of America 2009 National Juried Exhibition, Show Preview, American Art Collector
2009 February, "Through the Painter's Eye", Show Preview, American Art Collector
2005 Winter, Featured Artist, Scene Magazine (a quarterly publication of Pacific Lutheran University)
2003 November, Artist to Watch, Southwest Art