Today we’d like to introduce you to David Dauer.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
Influenced by the likes of Gauguin, Morris Louis, Stuart Davis and Milton Avery. I am a storyteller, portraying our world through the use of color and surrealism. I am stimulated by religious literature found in our past which helps to open my mind and be a reference point to the stories of our current life and existence.
As with everyone my path in the art world has had a unique path. Creativity has been the root of the underbelly of my life since I was a small child drawing trees out our dining room window of my childhood home in Framingham (MA). If it wasn’t for a neighbor, herself and artist, who saw in me a person with the gift I don’t know how my life would have evolved. I hope I would be at the same point today but one never knows.
Her name was Connie Webber, a realist painter, who encouraged me, nurturing my early growth. From there every class I could take in any media drew me as I wanted to experiment with all aspects of art. I was fortunate to go to a public-school system at the time which had a wonderful arts program. A high school program that had four full time art teachers. Unheard of today.
I was also very fortunate to have parents who accepted my wishes to follow the artist’s path. So many have their passion squelched because it is a very tough life.
I ended up being accepted to some art schools selecting UMass Dartmouth, then Southeastern Massachusetts University, for various reasons. That choice was a great decision. Today I’m still well connected to most of my artist friends as we still meet quarterly through our private group, TECM Artist’s Collaborative, to discuss art, help each other with thoughtful artistic critiques and simply enjoy our friendships.
After receiving my BFA from SMU, I took a year off before entering Kent State University where I earned my MFA in painting. I had this dream, like many other artists that I would make a name for myself in the art world and hopefully teach at the university level. Unfortunately, that wasn’t to be at the time. I found myself taking on many different jobs from cooking in restaurants (which paid my way through college) to working as a manager of a finance company. I was unhappy and thought that I might stay in the arts by getting into the design field which would keep my creative juices flowing. With some advice from people in the advertising industry I went back to UMass Dartmouth, taking courses for design and pursued freelance jobs from the start. At the same time, I met my wife of 36 years and my course was set. Marriage, children and wonderful jobs in the advertising and publishing world which took me from graphic artist to art director and creative director. It was a great life for many years. I tried a few times to get back into painting but life just gets in the way. I have no regrets because I was still making great art. It was just in a different way.
In 2009 the “Great Recession” hit and it affected my publishing job. One thing led to another and in early 2015 after some major spine surgery and a car accident I had that “aha” moment. “What do I want to do with the rest of my life.” The answer was to go back to my roots and paint. My wonderful wife was so supportive and my many art friends too.
Now here is the fun part. My wife didn’t know me as a painter. The many friends I made over the years and work associates only knew me as a designer. I never told anyone outside of the family that the BFA and MFA were in painting. Everyone assumed it was in design.
I started in June of 2015 finalizing my studio in the basement of my home and experimenting with painting. I had always worked in oils back in the day but had no patience for it. I had worked on a computer with all the major Adobe products for years and was used to instant creation, I made the switch to acrylics giving away my oils.
The paintings started to flow one after another. By November of 2015 one of my artist friends, Ron Fortier, saw what was going on and connected me with Luis Villanueva of Colo Gallery in New Bedford (MA) which resulted in a solo show in February of 2017. There were 23 paintings in that show and I even sold something. I was on cloud nine. I was back.
To my advantage with my background in the media I knew what had to be done early on. I had told my wife some months earlier that when I had 10 drawings and 10 paintings done I would set up my website and push the social media which brought on dbDauerStudio accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. I work hard at pushing the social media trail because that is part of the life of self-promotion these days and I understand it and how those numbers influence who sees you.
Around the same time, I found myself a bit isolated and thought I would find a part-time job to get myself out from my little dungeon. After looking around a bit I was hired as a designer in the Media Department at the Dedham Health & Athletic Complex. I’m not doing management – just designing 3 days/week. So, it is art every day of the week. How lucky am I? I’m living the life. I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life.
Since then I’ve had two other solo shows with another on the way in September. I’ve also been in some group and juried shows and continue to reach out. I joined the Milton and Hyde Park Art Associations and affiliated myself with the Switch Cooperative Gallery in Hyde Park (MA) where my work is always on view. On top of that I’m curating The Wall Gallery at Percival Brewing Company in Norwood (another story) where I get to help other artists have their work shown.
Another wonderful experience happened in the summer of 2017 when high school friend, Michael Martino, contacted me. Michael is a well-known and celebrated Stained Glass Craftsman trained in Italy. He had always wanted to collaborate with an artist and thought my work would translate well. The experience lasted into the fall and changed how I see color. The piece we produced is now in the Switch Coop Gallery in Hyde Park. Our wish is to get commissions through home and business installations over time.
I paint because that is at my heart. It is what drives me now. Creativity has always been in my life whether putting together a feature article in a magazine working with photographers and illustrators to making logos or posters. Today it is more about my minds vision on canvas and paper.
As John Kinsella said to his son Ray in Field of Dreams, “Is this Heaven”, Ray says, “No it is Iowa.” John then responds, “Iowa, I could have sworn this was heaven.”
As an artist, designer, husband and father, “I swear this must be heaven.”
Living the life.
Please tell us about your art.
My art is surrealistically based telling the stories of today while referencing writings from our religious past. Recently I have started to put pen to paper and have been working out prose of my own.
The words take me to another place which transports me to a place in my imagination where anything is possible and good versus evil battle while our own existence is usually in question.
The work is made with acrylics as I start each current painting with copy directly written on the canvas as it is incorporated into the painting and influences the imagery. I start out with the images drawn out from the words and my mind and there it begins. Dragons, birds, snakes, and beings of unknown origins in places with every type of landscape and celestial activity. Who wins is the viewers guess? There are hidden meanings purposely placed throughout.
Color is of utmost importance. I use combinations that many don’t usually see yet they work and create a light that is unexpected to most.
I love the viewer to interpret their own story, however I am happy to tell the story as I see it. Sometimes just talking about one piece can be enough for someone to take on the visual stories that they see without help in my other work. Often the titles are a nice take-off point for the viewer. If that doesn’t work the written word on the recent pieces certainly creates the story line for most.
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
My only advise is follow your passion whatever it is at 150% for if it is a passion that will seem like nothing.
Do what you feel and don’t let the outside world affect what you know is true and right for you.
Seek out a group of fellow artists who you are connected with and discuss art, talk about your art and seek true insights from them while keeping an open mind and heart.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
A few pieces of my work are always on view at the Switch Cooperative Gallery in Hyde Park, MA. I will be having a solo show at The Wall Gallery at Percival Brewing Company in September 2018. My website is always up-to-date so visiting dbDauerStudio.com is quite easy. I also send out an email newsletter every other month with updates of where my work is and shows of other artists. They can sign up for that on the homepage of my website. All my work is for sale so folks are able to email me for pricing which is very reasonable. My Facebook and Instagram pages will always show what I’m doing under dbDauerStudio at each social media outlet.
Contact Info:
- Address: 168 Brush Hill Road, #2
Milton, MA 02186 - Website: www.dbdauerstudio.com
- Phone: 617-694-5126
- Email: david@dbdauerstudio.com
- Instagram: dbdauerstudio
- Facebook: dbdauerstudio
- Twitter: dbdauerstudio
- Other: dbdauerdesignstudio.com
Image Credit:
Photos: ellenrogersphotography.com
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