LAC’s Reception Honoring July Artist to be Sunday

Published 12:22 pm Thursday, June 28, 2012

The Leeds Arts Council will host an opening reception to honor its July gallery artist, Michael Davis.  The reception will be Sunday, July 1, at the Leeds Theatre and Arts Center gallery, 8140 Parkway Drive, downtown Leeds, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.  The public is invited.  There is no charge; however, his beautiful paintings will be available for purchase.

Michael Davis is a watercolor realist inspired by the beauty and timelessness of the southern landscape.  His passion for nature is reflected in his many paintings of the southeast from the mountains to Tennessee and North Georgia to the gulf coasts of Alabama and Florida.

Although he began painting in oils when he was young, he quickly developed a love for the beauty and detail he could capture with watercolor.,  Influenced by the works of Hubert Shuptrine, John Carlson, and Wayne Spradley, Michael has spent his entire career developing his unique style of realism with watercolor.

Davis has been accepted into numerous juried art shows and exhibitions. In January 2 012, his Realism in Watercolor Solo Exhibit was featured at the Hardin Cultural Arts Center in Gadsden.  Recent exhibitions include a solo exhibit in the Fine Arts Gallery at the Levite Jewish Community Center of Birmingham, the Alabama Wildlife Federation Art Competition and the Energen Art Competition in which his painting, “Autumn on the Bayou” was purchased for their permanent collection.  He will also exhibt at the 54th Annual GAA Juried Art Show at the Gadsden Museum of Art from July 15 through August 31, 2012.

Among his many awards are first place in the 2012 Eufaula Art Show, Hoover, Arts Alliance Award at Art in the Gardens 2011, Hanna LeMaster Watercolor Award in Arts Alive 2011, Best of Show in Painting at the 2011 Fountain City Arts Fest, First Place Wqtercolor in the 2012 Hoover Shelby Art Association Show and Best of Show in the 20019 Vestavia Art Association Show.

Davis is a member oft the Mountain Brook Art Association, the Vestavia Hills Art Assocation, and the Blue Ridge Mountains Art Association. His paintings are in private and corporate collections throughout the south.

For further information about the artist and to view some of his work, go to his website:  www.michaeldaviswatercolors.com

For more information regarding the exhibit or upcoming Leeds Arts Council events, including the July performance of Cinderella, call 699-2440 or go to www.leedsartscouncil.org.  In case of inclement weather, call ahead.  The arts center gallery is open Wednesdays, Thursday, Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.