Michael Timothy Davis

For oil painter Michael Timothy Davis, art has always been a part of his life. As a child he copied his father’s drawings. As a student at the Schuler School of Fine Arts in Baltimore, MD he studied the Old Masters through rigorous copying of their master works. After two and a half years in this inspiring atelier and four years earning a Bachelors of Fine Arts at Shepherd College, Michael was ready to venture out to do his own drawings and paintings.

Michael’s work is influenced not only by the Dutch Old Masters, whose dark backgrounds and classic still lifes are foundational, but also by Michaelangelo, John Singer Sargeant and the Norwegian contemporary realist, Odd Nerdrum. Michael’s private study with Ben Summerford, the former art chairman at American University had an influence on the importance of pure color and the role of a strong composition in his work.

"I want my paintings to have a distinctive voice," Michael said explaining his goal to meld together his classic training with contemporary themes. Currently he is painting a series of small, simple, exquisitely detailed still lifes, focusing on the beauty of each object, inspired by the simple meditative look of Asian art. A recent trip to Florence became the focus of a new series of paintings.

Inspired by John Singer Sargeant’s full length portraits at the National Gallery of Art, Michael strives for that same presence, scale and painterly style of this American Master. As evidence of his early talent, Michael was already accepting portrait commissions while in college.

Michael has exhibited in numerous solo and juried group shows on the East Coast including the Shanks Art Exhibit, Shepherd College, Art at the Mill as well as select fine art galleries. His work is in numerous collections across the United States.

McBride Gallery is pleased to present the work of this talented artist.