David M. Blackwell

I I spent most of my younger years on a farm in southeast Louisiana where nature’s beauty was easy observed. Mother at times would hear me get up in the middle of the night. Curiously and protectively she quietly follow behind as I walked in my sleep. She said I walked out in the yard, stopped, turned my head upward and motionlessly stared at the stars. Huummm! Have always been an artist. Remember admiring a drawing of a horse in third grade, thumb-tacked high on the wall, with others of course. At the end of the year the teacher was returning the drawings to us when she placed the one of the horse on my desk. I was so excited to have it before me, in my hands after admiring all year. Was astonished when I saw my name written on it! I had drawn it the first day of school and never remembered doing it. I still experience the same phenomena in my work today. Turning away for a few moments or leaving the room returning only to wonder who had done the work before me? I received my professional training in design, architecture and painting from Louisiana Technical University. Studying under the guidance of well-known artists, teaching, travel abroad and to back yard lands to interpret what I experience through visual art.

EDUCATION

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY, Ruston. Louisiana – Art & Architecture 1975 – 1979

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY - Continuing Education – Attended Numerous Sessions 1988 – 2008

WORK EXPERIENCE

ARCHITECTURAL CADD MANAGER & DRAFTSMAN, Houston, Texas January 1980 – 2002

Managed Computer Aided Drafting & Design Production for major Architectural Engineering firms in Houston. Client liaison for standards and quality control.

D.M. BLACKWELL DESIGNS, Houston, Texas – Mobile Artist 2002 - Present

Worked in conjunction with notable Houston/Clear Lake area Interior Design Firms specializing in custom finish for walls, cabinetry and furniture. Creating large One-of-a-kind Murals and Large Murals on canvas.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

COMPUTER AIDED DRAFTING & DESIGN, Houston, Texas March 1983 – 2001

AutoCad & Microstation

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON 1978 – Present

Watercolor & Acrylic, Composition, Elements of Design, Application & Techniques, Critique Group

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY - Continuing Education – Assistant Instructor 1978 – Present

Assistant M. Douglas Walton (Professional Artist) in Activity Planing, Scheduling and One on one studio assistance. Focusing on Elements of Design, Drawing Skills, Composition & Color in Watercolor / Acrylic Painting.

EXHIBITIONS:

REGINA GALLERY, Houston, Texas 2009 - Present

BLOCK 7, Houston Texas – February – 2010

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON, Houston Texas – Retrospective Men Achieving March – 1993

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON, Houston Texas – Passages - Two Man Show 1988

JURIED EXHIBITIONS:

SOUTHWEST WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY – 45^th Annual Membership Exhibition March – 2009

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – 31^st International Exhibition March – 2008

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – Annual Membership Exhibition October – 2003

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – 16^th International Exhibition April – 1992

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – 12^th International Exhibition April – 1988

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – Fall Membership Exhibition October - 1988

SOUTHWEST WATERCOLOR SOCIETY, Dallas Texas – 15^th Annual Membership Exhibition October – 1978

LOUISIANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY, – International Exhibition December - 1978

AWARDS

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – 31^st International Exhibition – 5^th Place March – 2008

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON, Houston Texas – Merchandise Award October – 2003

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY – 25^th Anniversary Encounter – 3ed Merit Award July – 2001

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY – 25^th Anniversary Encounter – 1^st Place - Best of Show Award July – 2001

LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY – Color Encounter – 2ed Merit Award August – 1998

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – Fall Membership Exhibition October – 1988

WATERCOLOR ART SOCIETY HOUSTON – 12^th International Exhibition - 2^st Place April – 1988

LOUISIANA WATERCOLOR SOCIETY, – International Exhibition December - 1978

My Inspiration:

What is the inspiration behind my work? A flow of unleashed imagery that will not allow me sleep and invades my wakeness. Unexpressed creativity is like water trapped behind a dam. Some of the water must be allowed to pass through or ruination will surely occur… somewhere! Rushing out, Equalizing, Leveling as it hugs and caresses the earth after. The creative act can be calming or emotional for me, but the act of expressing always grants me sanity.

Content:

The work documents my journey. My state and feelings are unconsciously transferred to the surface. Each piece is coded with symbolism that stir the emotions. Fascinated with light, dimension and darkness.

My definition of Creative process:

Holds no-preconceived position in judgmental. Is orchestrated with gentle guidance, using basic rules, associations and implications. Employs constant connected observation combined with deliberate & concise manipulations. Can be Healing, Liberating and Greatly Saddening.