Dave Watkins is an abstract painter from Milwaukee’s Bay View neighborhood. Using bold color fields and line, his work is very influenced by the urban city around him. A passing boxcar covered in tags, the layers of paint on a city wall. Each work takes the viewer on a journey with their own interpretations.
Process. My paintings always start with words or phrases. Lettering and underwriting is a huge part of my initial process. Sometimes random thoughts, but mostly sourced from a constant growing list on my phone. I never want the words to steer the viewer into a certain direction or reference when observing my work. Usually charcoal and pencil, that same underwriting will most times become the painting title. Next, palette knives scrape colors in the first steps, both covering and revealing the expressions. After this the intuition starts in the first few layers of color with large, flat brushes. In this first session I am trying to build the start of some structure and future forms to build upon. Painting sessions to follow are the detail work. Plotting, marking off next moves, lines, drips, layering.
Studio. After working from home studios for over 15 years, I now have a studio office in the nearby Walker’s Point neighborhood. This move outside of the home has really ignited my practice, and I’m excited where my work is going. Wanna see what I’m working on? Drop me aline.
