JAMES BARRETT DAVIS,  BS, MS, PHD

700 West Robert St, Hammond, LA 70401-3148

(985) 345-3048 – home
http://www.whimsicalwoodcarving.etsy.com


Artist’s Statement:
My images and objects are reflections of my tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and tendency to whimsy and things of a fanciful nature. Creations of my imagination include wood spirits, gnomes, elves, gnome houses, Santa and other things and creatures that we all know…if we just know where to look.  Mostly I find these creations in wood and stone but sometimes they make their best appearances with a bit of paint or pyrography.  Except in the case of woodturning and very dense wood, very little use is made of power tools. Hurricane Katrina and Rita downed trees and supplied me with many raw materials, but my search for creatures extends to northern basswood from Minnesota and cottonwood from North Dakota.  Woods and finishes are non toxic.  Wood turning has found me “saving” the downed limbs of local trees.  Art to me is just fun…not commercial or competitive.

FINE ART COMPETENCIES:  stone sculpture (bas reliefs – slate), drawing, clay, print making, photography, graphic arts, wood sculpture, wood turning
EDUCATION

• Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling Psychology, Statistics and Research Methodology, University of Southern Mississippi 1971

• Master of Science, Counseling and Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 1965

• Bachelor of Science, Psychology and Sociology, 1964 

FINE ARTS EDUCATION, WORKSHOPS AND STUDIO, ETC.                                

• Mother was a professional artist and art instructor
• Non-credit classes University of New Orleans 1965-1970
• Non-credit classes Southeastern Louisiana University 1975-1985
• 16 Courses in Woodcarving, Pyrography and Woodturning  - John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC, 1994-2011  

Art Activities and honors                                                 

•  Hammond Art Guild Recording Secretary 2010-2011
•  Amite Art Club 2009 Purchase Award and Blue Ribbon
•  Hammond Art Guild Spring Shows, 2009, 2010
•  Louisiana Renaissance Festival 2009 – Present Part Owner of Whimsical Wood                                              

ART RELATED MEMBERSHPS

•  Hammond Art Guild
•  Amite Art Club
•  American Association of Woodturners
•  Bayou Woodturners Association
•  Hammond Cutups Woodcarvers                                                

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY
James Davis, aka Jim, grew up in the home of artists and tinkerers with a sense of humor.  Jim’s mom was a professional artist and art instructor.  Mercedes Davis was a professional painter and college art instructor in mediums oil, acrylics, and pastels.  Jim’s sister Judi Buchanan has been a successful potter for over 50 years. Jim developed drawing and sketching but developed an interest in sculpture in the 1960’s while living in New Orleans.  After working in stone (bas reliefs in slate) for a few years, Jim returned to university to complete his doctorate.  Art, except for some creative woodworking, was placed on the back burner until a move to Georgia introduced him to sculpting in wood.  Woodcarving classes were abundant in the Atlanta area, but it was the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC where Jim met and studied with the top wood artists in the country including Tom Wolfe, Ron Ransom, Helen Gibson, Wayne Shinlever, Orchid Davis and others.