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Described some time ago in a major publication
as a “New West” artist, David DeVary uses symbols of the
American West to express universal emotions and themes,
especially attitude. He surrounds his contemporary cowboys and
cowgirls with silver, gold and copper metallic leaf, so that the
images become more of a romanticized icon rather than a
depiction of the reality of a particular person, place or time.
By juxtaposing the gloss and glitter of copper and gold leafing
with the layering on of glazes, spackling and other mixed media,
DeVary gives “an earthly, familiar feel to the work at the same
time it gets an ‘other world,’ heroic, timeless quality.”
DeVary paints introspective, idealized and
sometimes provocative figures, capturing and combining the good
feelings associated with the Western myth and the American
Dream. His use of bright yellow slickers, hats that shield the
eyes, antique chaps, and the cowboy’s own natural body language
helps create a striking, unique, almost ethereal portrait of the
American cowboy and cowgirl.
“I’m not painting history; rather, I’m trying
to capture the mythical American West the way we’d like it to be
or the way it could be. Like the traditional western artist, I’m
fascinated with this romanticized, idealized West.
“In the past ten to fifteen years I have had
the privilege of having my work in some of the finest homes,
museums and galleries from Chicago to Yountville, from Paris to
Santa Fe.
I love what I’m doing and I hope you like it
too.”
DAVID DEVARY
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