Alan Davie facts for kids

James Alan Davie (born September 28, 1920 – died April 5, 2014) was a talented Scottish artist. He was known for his paintings and also for being a musician.

About Alan Davie

Alan Davie was born in Grangemouth, Scotland, in 1920. His father, James William Davie, was also an art teacher and painter. Alan studied art at Edinburgh College of Art from 1937 to 1941. He had some of his first art shows with the Society of Scottish Artists.

After the Second World War, Davie played the tenor saxophone in the Tommy Sampson Orchestra. This band was based in Edinburgh and played music on the radio and during tours in Europe. During this time, he also made jewellery to earn money.

Davie's Artistic Style

Davie traveled a lot and was inspired by many things. When he was in Venice, he saw the work of famous painters like Paul Klee, Jackson Pollock, and Joan Miró. He was also interested in different cultural symbols from around the world.

A big part of his painting style came from his interest in Zen. Zen is a type of Buddhism that focuses on meditation and being in the moment. Davie read a book called Zen in the Art of Archery. This book taught him about being spontaneous and not planning too much.

Davie believed that planning ahead could get in the way of true art. So, he tried to paint as automatically as possible. He wanted to let his unconscious mind guide his art. This idea was similar to what surrealist painters like Miró believed. Davie was also fascinated by the ideas of Carl Jung, a famous thinker about the mind.

How Davie Painted

Like Jackson Pollock, Davie often painted by standing over his canvases. He would lay the painting on the ground and add many layers of paint. Sometimes, the original painting would be covered many times over!

Even though he worked quickly and often had several paintings going at once, Davie said his images were not just abstract shapes. He believed they all had important meanings as symbols. He thought artists were like shamans, who are spiritual healers in some cultures. He noticed that different cultures around the world often used similar symbols in their art.

Besides painting on canvas or paper, Davie also made many screenprints. He actually became well-known for his art in Europe and America before people in Britain fully understood his mix of old and new symbols. In his talks, Davie always emphasized how important it was to improvise, or create on the spot. He saw himself as an inspired storyteller who resisted too much logical thinking.

Davie's Music and Other Works

Davie was also a talented musician who played the piano, cello, and bass clarinet. In the early 1970s, he became very interested in free improvisation in music. He worked closely with a percussionist named Tony Oxley. Davie's paintings have also inspired music created by other artists, like the bassist and composer Barry Guy.

Davie designed the cover for a book called Prehistoric Scotland in 1963. His design used patterns found on ancient Pictish symbol stones. Alan Davie passed away in Hertfordshire, England, on April 5, 2014, when he was 93 years old.

On October 29, 1947, in Edinburgh, Davie married Janet Gaul. She was also an artist, working as a potter and designer. They had one daughter, Jane, who was born in 1949.

Art Collections

Many art collections and museums around the world own works by Alan Davie. Some of these include:

• Art Institute of Chicago
• Dallas Museum of Art
• Metropolitan Museum of Art
• Museum of Modern Art
• National Galleries of Scotland
• Peggy Guggenheim Collection
• Tate Gallery
• Art Gallery of New South Wales
• Harvard University Art Museums
• Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
• Oklahoma City Museum of Art
• The Priseman Seabrook Collection
• San Diego Museum of Art
• Southampton City Art Gallery
• The Hepworth Wakefield
• Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum

Portraits of Alan Davie

You can find photographs of Alan Davie in the National Portrait Gallery collection and at Gimpel Fils, an art gallery in London. There is also a self-portrait by artist John Bellany that features Davie, which is held at the National Galleries of Scotland.

Discography

Alan Davie also released several music albums:

• The Alan Davie Music Workshop (ADMW, 1970)
• Suite for Prepared Piano and Mini Drums (ADMW, 1971)
• Bird Through the Wall (ADMW, 1971)
• Phantom in the Room (ADMW, 1971)
• The Tony Oxley Alan Davie Duo (ADMW, 1975)
• Elaboration of Particulars (Confront, 2021)

See also

In Spanish: Alan Davie para niños