Artist Statement
Since I was young I have always painted. It’s an addiction. Portrait painting is a balancing act between technical skill and emotional sensitivity. When the two dance together as one on canvas I know the portrait is complete. The finished painting will not only look like the subject but will feel like them too. Their personality suffusing and enlivening the two-dimensional surface. As if they could walk out of the painting and speak to the viewer.
The Studio
Studio life is monastic. Peaceful. There are no lights on. The only light comes from a large window. No computer, no phone. Sometimes music is my only company. The way I paint takes time. I will usually work for several weeks on one canvas. Sometimes longer. It’s a place to focus and get lost in a project.
The painting room is about 20’x20’ with tall ceilings to accommodate an oversized north-facing window. North light provides the most consistent and most sublime illumination. It has a very soft, even, and silvery quality. This is the light Rembrandt and almost every other portrait painter has used over the centuries. The easel is set up directly next to my subject in the middle of the room. The art is in the observation. The actual application of paint is merely a mechanical response to what I decided was necessary to express from my point of observation.
A painting becomes your life for a few weeks. Then you move on to a different life. The paintings effect your moods. There is excitement in the beginning, struggle in the middle as you work through the technical issues, and finally resolution and ideally fulfillment in the end. It is a cycle that repeats itself with every project. Amazingly, every painting feels like the first one you ever painted. No two are painted alike.
The Process
Portraits are done in oil on canvas using traditional techniques. Once the general concept for a portrait is established with the subject, a photo shoot is arranged on location or in the artist’s studio.
A 10% advance deposit is required to put a project in the painting queue. The portrait process takes approximately six months. Pricing on request.
For further information please contact the artist at info@davidlarned.com
Resume
D A V I D L A R N E D
Born: New York City, NY, 1976
E D U C A T I O N
2003 University of Pennsylvania, B.F.A. Cum Laude, Philadelphia, PA
2000-2002 Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
1997-1999 Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
E X H I B I T I O N S, S O L O / G R O U P
2014 Portraits
Meredith Long Gallery, Houston, TX
2012 Portraits
Meredith Long Gallery, Houston, TX
2008 Recent Works
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2006 Interiors
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2006 Recent Works
Pierre S. du Pont Arts Center, Wilmington, DE
2006 Recent Works
Barbara Gisel Design Gallery, Haverford, PA
2004 New Works
Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover, DE
2003 Portraits
Artist’s House Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Self Portraits
John Pence Gallery, San Francisco
2003 Realism Revisited
Hirschl and Adler Gallery, New York City, NY
2003 The Sea Coast Near and Far
Susan Powell Gallery, Madison, CT
2003 Still Classical
Westbeth Gallery, New York City, NY
2003 Annual Student Exhibition
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Drawn To You
Moore Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2002 Winter Certificate Exhibition
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2002 Learning the Classical Way
Pierre S. du Pont Arts Center, Wilmington, DE
2002 Landscapes from Tuscany and the Brandywine Valley
Delaware Center for Contemporary Art, Wilmington, DE
2001 Recent Works
Design Elements, Wilmington, DE
2000 New Talent Exhibition
Gross McCleaf Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
A W A R D S
2009 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Semi-Finalist
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.
2006 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Semi-Finalist
Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery, Washington D.C.
2003 Earl T. Donelson Figure Painting Prize
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Historic Yellow Springs Landscape Prize
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2003 Seymour Remenick Memorial Prize
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2002 National Collegiate Scholar
University of Pennsylvania NSCS Chapter, Philadelphia, PA
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
2013 Maine Home and Design, “Air and Light,” Debra Spark, January
2010 The Hunt, “The Sitter and the Painter,” Roger Morris, Winter
2010 “Star Wars Visions,” George Lucas, J.W. Rinzler
2010 “100 Artists of the Brandywine Valley,” Catherine Quillman
2009 Palm Beach Illustrated, “The Style Files,” October
2008 American Art Collector, “Daily Observations,” November issue
2008 American Art Collector, “A San Francisco Summer,” July issue
2008 The News Journal, “Del.’s first ladies have their own wall now,” November 28
2008 American Art Collector, “A San Francisco Summer,” July
2008 Chester County Town & Country Living, “A Study of Light, Surface, Personality, and Food”
2008 Chester County Life, “Embracing the Man, Mission, and Arts,” May/June issue
2008 PBS, WHYY, Delaware Tonight, “Portrait of an Artist,” March 27
2007 Greenville News, “Clarice Wolf’s portrait to be unveiled in governor’s mansion,”
October 9
2006 Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Competition, “A Lost World Found”
2004 Art Talk, “Mastery Triumphant in San Francisco,” April issue
2004 Delaware Today, “Hot Tickets,” February issue
2004 The Dover Post, “Contemporary Portraitist,” January 21
2004 The Cape Gazette, “Larned Exhibit,” January 2
1996 Vermont Quarterly, “The Body in the Mind’s Eye,” Winter issue
T E A C H I N G
2002 Sculpture Drawing Program Head
Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
M E M B E R S H I P S
Portrait Society of America
S E L E C T E D I N S T I T U T I O N A L P R O J E C T S
G O V E R N M E N T
President and Mrs. George H.W. Bush, Houston, TX
Governor Pierre S. du Pont IV, DE
Governor Dale E. Wolf, DE
Governor Ruth Ann Minner, DE
Governor Steven Beshear, KY
Governor Jack Markell, DE
First Lady Carla Markell, State of Delaware
First Lady Lillian Peterson, DE
First Lady Jeanne Tribbitt, DE
First Lady Elise du Pont, DE
First Lady Jane Castle, DE
First Lady Clarice Wolf, DE
First Lady Martha Carper, DE
Delaware State Senator, Nancy Cook, DE
J U D I C I A L
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, The Honorable Seamus P. McCaffery, PA
US District Court, The Honorable Joseph J. Farnan, Jr., DE
US District Court, The Honorable Sue L. Robinson, Chief Judge, DE
US Bankruptcy Court, The Honorable Kevin Carey, District of DE
US Bankruptcy Court, The Honorable Christopher Sontchi, District of DE
US Bankruptcy Court, The Honorable Helen S. Balick, Chief Judge,
US Bankruptcy Court, The Honorable Peter Walsh, District of DE
US Bankruptcy Court, The Honorable Mary Walrath, District of DE
Sussex County Family Court, The Honorable Battle Robinson, DE
Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District,The Honorable Marlene F. Lachman, PA
Delaware Court of Chancery, Vice Chancellor Stephen Lamb, DE
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, The Honorable Tom Ambro, PA
R E L I G I O U S
Second Baptist Church, Jo Beth Young, TX
St. Martins Episcopal Church, Rector James Bagby, TX
St. Martins Episcopal Church, Rector Claude Payne, TX
St. Martins Episcopal Church, Rector Laurence Gipson, TX
St. Marys Church, Reverend, CT
D O N O R S
Academy of the Vocal Arts, Sally Paxson, PA
Thomas Jefferson University, Kimmel School of Medicine, Sidney Kimmel, PA
Adelphi University, Carol Ammon, NY
Christiana Hospital, Carol Ammon, DE
C L U B S
Merion Cricket Club President, Lisa Stokes, PA
Merion Cricket Club President, Peter Classen, PA
Merion Golf Club, President, Harry E. Hill III, PA
Merion Cricket Club, President, Mark Cresap, PA
Merion Cricket Club, President, Brian Crochiere, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM Raymond Dietz, Philadelphia, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Slater, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Aungst, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Gardner, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Sturgeon, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Smith, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGS, Albert, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGS, Haines, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGT, Coy, PA
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, F. & A.M., RWGM, Bateman, PA
The Society of the Cincinnati, President, General Ross Perry, DC
The Society of the Cincinnati, President, General George Forrest Pragoff, DC
The Society of the Cincinnati, President, Jonathan Woods, DC
The State in Schuylkill Fishing Company, Governor Bill Delafield, PA
The State in Schuylkill Fishing Company, Governor Norris Claytor, PA
Philadelphia Club, President, Harry Cherkin, PA
E D U C A T I O N
Yale, School of Management, Donor, Edward P. Evans, CT
Texas A&M, Dean of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Eleanor Green, TX
Lamar University, Donor, Wayne Reaud, TX
Franklin and Marshall College, President, Dan Porterfield, PA
Brenau University, President, Dr. Ed Schrader, GA
Rice University, President, David Leebron, TX
LSU, Paul M. Herbert Law Center, Chancellor, Jack Weiss, LA
Pace University, President, Stephen J. Friedman, NY
Malvern Preparatory School, President, Father James Flynn, PA
Malvern Preparatory School, President, David Duffy, PA
Malvern Preparatory School, President, Jim Stewart, PA
Franklin and Marshall College, President, John Fry, PA
The Agnes Irwin School, Head of School, Mary Seppala, PA
The Agnes Irwin School, Head of School, Dr. Wendy Hill, PA
Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Headmaster, Frank Steel, PA
Haverford School, Headmaster, Joe Cox, PA
University of Pennsylvania, Dr. James Spady, Director of Fels Institute of Government, PA
Villanova University School of Law, Dean, Steven P. Frankino, PA
Curtis Institute of Music, President, Gary Graffman, PA
University of Delaware, Professor, Ellis Wasson, PhD, DE
University of Delaware, Chairman of the Board, Gil Sparks, DE
John H. Ammon Medical Education Center, John H. Ammon, DE
Ruth S. Ammon School of Education, Adelphi University, Ruth S. Ammon, NY
St. Andrews School, Board of Trustees Chair, Katherine Gahagan, DE
St. Marks School, Michel Athletics Building, Clifford Michel, MA
C O R P O R A T E
Houston Trust Co., Founder, Jim Elkins, TX
Health Partners Plans, CEO, Bill George, PA
Dupont Company, CEO, Ellen Kullman, DE
Bayhealth Medical Center, President and CEO Dennis Klima, DE
AAA Mid-Atlantic, Inc., President and CEO Don Gagnon, DE
UGI Corporation, President and CEO Lon Greenberg, PA
W.S.F.S., CEO, Mark Turner, DE
W.S.F.S., CEO, Marvin Schoenhals, DE
Corporation Service Company, CEO, Dan Butler, DE
CSC Global Company, CEO, Bruce Winn, DE
Friess and Associates and the Brandywine Funds, Founder, Foster Friess, WY
RIDA Development Corporation, Founder, David Mitzner, TX
Draper Holdings Company, Founder, Tom H. Draper, DE
UGI Corporation, CEO, Lon Greenberg, PA
Vinson & Elkins, Managing Director, Joe Dilg, TX
Vinson & Elkins, Managing Director, Evans Attwell, TX
M E D I C I N E
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dr. Tom Spray, PA
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Chief of Plastic Surgery, Dr. Linton Whitaker, PA
CHOP, Surgeon in Chief, Dr Scott Adzick, PA
Texas Heart Institute, Chairman of The Board, Meredith Long, TX
Nemours/Alfred I du Pont Hospital for Children, CEO, Tom Ferry, DE
The Chester County Hospital and Health System, CEO and President, H.L. Pepper, PA
Lankenau Hospital, Chief of Surgery, Dr. Joe Flannigan, PA
Lankenau Hospital, Chief of Surgery, Dr. William Lewis, PA
Lankenau Hospital, Chief of Medicine, Dr. James Santoro, PA
Pennsylvania Hospital, Chairman of the Board, Morris Cheston, PA
Christiana Care Health System, Chief of Medicine, Dr. Robert Flinn, DE
Pennsylvania Hospital, Neurologist, Dr. Howard Hurtig, PA
Commentary
“The challenge which faces every portrait painter is the ability to accurately and recognizably depict his subjects not only as they are, but also as they aspire to be. Graced with enormous natural talent, David Larned captures the character and soul in his portraits of people, which is indeed the essence of a memorable and timeless work of art.”
– Andrew C. Rose, Art Finance Partners, LLC New York City, NY