 December 2008
Fred Davenport
Native of AZ? If not where you relocated from and how long ago? I'm a native of Toledo, Ohio, spent most of my working life in Cleveland, and moved to Arizona in 1995.
How long have you been involved with APAA? I think I've been a member for something over three years.
In what capacities have you served APAA? I've just recently been put in charge of Education/Workshops and that's the only position I've held in the organization.
What formal art education, if any, do you have? I've taken courses at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Scottsdale Artists' School.
What informal art education, workshops, etc. have you taken part in that have impacted your art? I grew up looking at paintings in the Toledo Museum of Art, one of the country's great museums, and took art classes there every Saturday as a child. I was fortunate to attend a very special school, The Stevens School in Toledo, which emphasized art and music and worked with the museum to educate its students. Those early years have made me a lifelong museum goer. In fact, there's nothing I like more than going to museums! Here in Arizona I've taken perhaps eight or nine classes at the Scottsdale Artists' School.
Do you work in other media…or just pastel? I've done some sculpture, a lot of abstract acrylics, and oils. As a child I drew all the time.
Are you a full time artist? If not are you still working? If so, what do you do? Since I'm retired I guess one could call me a full time artist. If I'm not in the studio working (my garage) I'm thinking about pastels!
Are you a member of other art organizations as well? I only belong to APAA.
What are your goals for your art…a career, second career, enjoyment or hobby, become rich and famous, etc.? My goal is to become the best painter I can be...and the only way one can do that is by painting, painting, painting.
Why have you chosen pastels as a medium? I took a class from Allen Garns perhaps four years ago and instantly fell in love with pastels. I haven't touched anything else since then.
Do you work in themes or series? If not…do you have favorite topics? I started out doing landscapes, but then took a portrait class from Leslie DeMille, who took out all the terror of portrait painting for me, and I now enjoy doing portraits along with cityscapes. Several years ago I did pastels on the streets of Paris and that was really fun. I've done a lot of Paris stuff since then. I guess I'll try anything!
Are you represented by any galleries? I was in some Cleveland and Toledo galleries, was in the Cleveland and Toledo May Shows at the museums, the Cleveland Museum traveling shows, and now am in the Tang Gallery in Bisbee and the Spitzer Gallery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Back in 1968 I had a one man show at the Toledo Museum of Art. And some years later I and my cousin, Shirley, had several two per-son shows in Ohio and Michigan.
Any experiences, awards, etc. that have been boosts for your career? I've gotten some awards, but nothing that's boosted the price of my work to millions of dollars!
Are you married? Do you have children? I am married to Mary Lois who has three grown children scattered all over the place. We have a family of doctors and I can't stand anything to do with medicine.
Anything else that you would like to share about yourself? I said I think of nothing else but pastels and art, but that's not true; I'm in thrall night and day to a demanding male cat named Henrietta, but that's another story. I keep thinking of other stuff; I used to fly airplanes and then got involved with really nutty stuff like jumping horses. Now that was dangerous but addictive. Why did I ever do that?
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