Most artists paint what they know, but painter David Frederick Riley works a bit backwards. “I use painting to learn about things I don’t know…it’s my reason to investigate new things,” Riley explains. This is true of his upcoming show of new works titled Blowin with the Wind, depicting animals that are commonly seen in Arizona, in honor of the hosting gallery, Altamira Fine Art, in Scottsdale, Arizona. 
Curious Creature, oil, 40 x 40”
Upon moving to Midway, Utah, from Michigan 15 years ago, Riley uncovered a landscape and way of life he had never before experienced. “I started doing Western and wildlife work about five years ago after being exposed to living out West and seeing so many different animals,” Riley explains. “I started painting animals and animal portraits, and used that as an excuse to learn about them and figure them out.”
For Riley, it’s all about capturing the spirit or character of the animal. “I like to watch videos of the animals and find one in real life, get something out of it in nature,” he furthers. “The fun part is trying to translate that visually.” Riley also uses photos for reference and different characteristics to achieve just the right expression. In addition, Riley has a background in professional portraiture, giving him the skills needed to illuminate the new work.
Watchful, oil, 48 x 48”
For his piece Curious Creature, showing a portrait of a fox, Riley explores how he can say more about the animal than just what it looks like, using composition and expression. “Maybe the fox sneaks into the frame of the canvas or appears off centered,” says Riley of pulling out the curious nature of a fox.
In contrast, Riley’s painting of a bison titled Watchful, depicts a large bison up close and personal, with his eye in the center of the canvas to emphasize the size and “mountainous quality” of the bison. Riley also brings out the true character of a mountain lion in his painting Make No Mistake. “[Mountain lions] are just power houses, and there’s a cool combination of strength, agility and sneakiness to them,” Riley says. “I wanted to square up with it and make sure the viewer knows who’s boss, without over doing it.”
Make No Mistake, oil, 48 x 48”
For the show, displayed at Altamira from March 29 through April 10, Riley will also have a couple of pieces from his portrait series of Native Americans, taken from old turn-of-the-century photographs, and even a couple of pieces based on old rodeo photographs. This work even furthers his education-based process in learning about different Native tribes and life in the old West.
Cotton, oil, 40 x 40”
“I used these portraits as a way to learn more about Native American history and the different tribes,” Riley explains. “Native American’s are a portrait artist’s dream to paint. They just had a massive amount of grit and experienced incomprehensible things. They wear it on their face and there’s just a lot of emotion there. I wanted to capture the pride and strength but at the same time, the sorrow and difficulty.” Riley notes that it’s a lot harder to find that emotion in today’s more protected modern world, leaving him to rely on old photographs to achieve this dimension.
Riley truly hopes that “when people see the work, they have an immediate reaction and emotion, so they have to stop by multiple times to look, connect and feel, as if the show is looking back at them as much as they’re looking at it.” —
Upcoming Show
Up to 12 works
March 29-April 10, 2021
Altamira Fine Art
7038 Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85251,
(480) 949-1256
www.altamiraart.com
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