Introducing myself
 

Greetings,

I was a seasoned illustrator before focusing on oil portraiture a few years back. A brief stint at Disney Feature Animation (Background Painter on two films TARZAN and MULAN) rekindled my interest in oil painting and portraits, my first love. I did more painting in 2 years at Disney than 10 years in illustration. A great growth experience-even got to experience a visit/demo by Burton Silverman (a Hero)and take him to dinner afterward (on Disney).

I resumed full time portraiture 2 years ago after a career hiatus of a couple of years due to a contretemps with a vehicle behind me (twice!) which in aggravating an old parachute injury did a number on my neck (and vision).

I feel I am now painting better than I ever have tho I still want to loosen up more after the strictures of illustration (it is coming with every painting). Standing up to paint helps.

I love portrait painting, think John Singer Sargent is the Man and the Derriere Guard is terrific. Oh, I have a cat.

Namaste
David
www.davidjarvisart.com

Great paintings on your web site David. Did you ever meet Walt?

Hi David,

Nice to meet you and welcome aboard. Geri

Hi David,

Welcome to the Forum! Do you know Dan Goozee (spectacular painter, lovely guy), who worked for Disney for many years? From his retelling his art experience there, it is hard to imagine a better training ground anywhere.

Burt Silverman is one of my heroes, too. Look forward to seeing you on-line!

Chris

I really enjoyed looking through your web site. Nice work. Welcome to the forum!

Welcome to the forum David. We look forward to your contributions!

In your profile you mention ETI. Mind if I ask what that is?

Hi Mike,

Thank you very much. No, I missed Walt by a whisker. I'd like to see your art also.

Ciao,
David

Dear Geri,

Thank you. It is nice to be aboard. Lovely Bougereau.

David

Hi Chris,

Thank you. This forum and website is amazing and I am looking forward to getting up to speed with it and how to post an image (I am a relative newbie to computers). Your work is terrific. The name Dan Goozee is very familiar tho I think I just missed him. I am terrible with names (still) and met so many creatives at Disney, 400 in Florida and in my 3 week Tarzan ramp up in LA, a few hundred more!

Yes, Disney was an amazing place with some amazing talents. As you say a great training ground. The whole process of classic animation is so unbelievably complex it takes years to understand and know it, and only from within. Some of the best painters I've ever seen are in the small Background units of the LA, Orlando and Paris studios. Especially the Chinese. My friend "Jay" (Jie Xiangyuan sp?) is THE Best I've ever seen. In 2 or 3 hours, every time, he would produce a beautiful finished oil of any subject matter. Loose and painterly, terrific color, likeness, composition, etc ready for framing; from the same view the rest of us were whacking away at. Truly masterful and a very sweet, humble little guy. I feel honored to know him and (being very picky about my "wall space") lust for one of his paintings for my wall (eventually).

Sorry to ramble. Looking forward to you online.

David

Dear Karin,

Thank you for the kind words and welcome. I've just been absorbed by your work and website. Your work is very lovely, amazing lights and darks and very classical. I also have been learning a bunch from the articles on your site. I am frankly a little amazed by this new immersion in the Forum and exposure to A Stroke of Genius. (Cynthia Daniel had a stroke of genius). Where have I been all my life? I wish I had focused on portrait painting 10 or 20 years ago. I know I should be on The Stroke Gallery and will when I can.

Again thank you for making me feel welcome. I have felt alone for a long time. Illustrators used to be rather competitive and portrait painters seemed to be very rare but this is beginning to feel a bit familial.
Sincerely,

David