FRI: 4-2 | SAT: 4-2
21+
Austin Davis, paint + wood
Throughout this journey swimming through the murky waters of a “working artist” I have
inadvertently spit myself in two.
There is the business - public side of me. The one with a greasy smile and sweaty palms, willing to shake hands with the devil for two nickels and a pat on the head.
And then there's the me that resents that me. The side that dies a little everytime I sell a product instead of a painting - that makes a commodity rather than a creation. The side that made the first steps onto this path but have long since been forgotten and atrophied along the way.
These are two sides of the same coin with varying currencies. Masks I’ve worn and have mistaken for my own reflection. Neither are inherently good or bad, they merely represent and advocate for different interests. That said, what has once fed me, now leaves my stomach in knots. Afterall, man does not live on bread alone.
At the height of my career, I flipped everything upside down. I said no to thousand dollar deals, ended business partnerships, and stopped marketing myself to cannibalistic entities. I began trusting my intuition and started painting for the experience rather than the outcome. I was reassured that my only job was to be honest - not good - not lucrative - just honest. This road has been brutal, humbling, and infinitely rewarding to say the least.
The paintings you see today are just some of the souvenirs kept through that journey. They are my deepest fears, my biggest regrets, my thoughts, feelings, and way of processing the world within and around me. Moreover, they represent the real me. The man left without a mask to wear.
My intention is not to offend but to illuminate and to share. Please keep that in mind when viewing these pieces. There is always more than meets the eye.
If you would like to connect, share, and discuss any of the pieces shown please feel free to contact me.
(360)706-3118 | Instagram: @_WidEyed | Email: wideyedesign@yahoo.com