Continuing the Art of Play
May 18, 2022
Artist: Nick Davis
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Inspired by the greats who came before him such as Brooklyn graffiti pioneer Jean-Michel Basquiat, the St. Petersburg, FL native began sketching and painting at a young age. In 2019, Davis took on digital artistry after epilepsy left him unable to work. Using an iPad gifted to him by his wife, he began to experiment with computer generated artwork. He would soon realize that he was not only determined to master his technique, but that he wanted to use the artform to depict the raw emotions of Blacks in their day to day joy and struggles. Before long, Davis constructed an entire collection of digital art that portrayed his love for his culture, appropriately titled, Black Is Beautiful.
Davis and his Black Is Beautiful masterpieces soon attracted national and international recognition. In November 2019, he was recognized by BET as their Artist of the Week during their BET Air segment. UK based media company WhatsOn featured Davis’s work the following month in one of its publications. He was also featured on PBS as a part of their WEDU Arts Plus series in January 2020. Additionally, Davis has been highlighted in The Weekly Challenger, Creative Pinellas and on Tampa Bay’s Local News Station, CBS Channel 10. In June 2020, his Black Is Beautiful collection was showcased at the Dunedin Fine Art Center.
"It only takes one person to be impacted by who you are to cause a domino effect of change in the world"
- Nick Davis
Project:
As you look through the images below you will find that Nick Davis has paired his artwork with a corresponding quote. These quotes inspire the work and its meaning.
We will use our entire class time to complete a final piece.
Please step into your first impressions and ideas of the art below and respond accordingly.
Perhaps consider a portrait of a person that inspires you. You may wish to do a self-portrait with a characteristic that is unique to you. It could be an object that is important to you, a facial expression, or the way you wear your hair.
You may use any materials you wish, collage, cut paper, markers, drawing, or painting.
There are absolutely no wrong paths. Let your piece reveal the message you are wanting to share.
“As I always say, class, you’re out of this world.” - Ms. Frizzle
“And there's no way I could pay you back
But my plan is to show you that I understand.
You are appreciated” - Tupac Shakur
“I am what I am. I love me! And I don't mean that egotistically - I love that God has allowed me to take whatever it was that I had and to make something out of it. - Stevie Wonder
“I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is to keep your head clear enough to think.” - Richard Pryor
“Mankind Is The Virus And I’m The Cure.” - Samuel L. Jackson
“Like any artist without an art form, she became dangerous.” - Toni Morrison
"You are one of one. None before and none to come. That what makes you different, makes you beautiful." - Pharrell Williams
“I am dripping melanin and honey. I am black without apology.” - Upile Chisala
"hap·pi·ness" by Nick Davis
"The state of being happy."
"We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty" - Maya Angelou
“I try to be like a forest: revitalizing and constantly growing.” - Forest Whitaker
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." - Mae Jemison
“The soul that is within me no man can degrade.” —Frederick Douglass
“I am grateful to have been loved, and to be loved now and to be able to love. Because love liberates.” - Maya Angelou
"You can do some rather extraordinary things if that is what you really believe." -Toni Morrison
“I believe the ability to think is blessed. If you can think about a situation, you can deal with it. The big struggle is to keep your head clear enough to think.” - Richard Pryor
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