Where are you painting from and what have you been doing to keep busy?

During the first few weeks of the lockdown, I retreated to my studio where the palette was bare and no canvas was on the easel. My inspiration was gone. I was sinking in a depression. One of my artist friends called one day to check on me. When he found that I was completely stuck, he hammered me to just start one and report back in 2 hours. This was the kick in the pants I needed. After that, the paintings started to flow out of me.


How did you find inspiration from your surroundings for it?

Zabriskie Point in Death Valley is one of my favorite places on earth. Sunrise is a very special time. There is always an amazing light show. It is also the first place I ever painted outside. Locked down at home during the early days of the pandemic, I longed for the magic of Zabriskie Point. The only way to journey there was to paint it. I had never tried to paint the sunrise there, always too intimidated. But suddenly I felt free to explore and came up with this painting.

What is one positive that has come from this experience for you?

Painting during the pandemic made me revisit many of the drawings and photos I had put away in the “someday” file. Without a schedule to follow, I could let my imagination wander. Some of my best work has come from the past few months of lockdown.

What is one of your favorite pieces in the collection from a fellow artist?

I love the abstract piece by Kim VanDerHoek, “Breaking Through”. It presents several sets of challenges to the viewer to find their own meaning in her lyrical brushwork.


Learn more about David's artwork and story here.