Harmony on the grand scale with artist Gary Davis

Artist Gary Davis is embracing the environment and has been sharing snippets of his moments whilst on the Artist Residency programme at Lion Sands Ivory Lodge.

We loved his sentiments on time: “The concept of time and how we label it into days does not exist here in the bush. There is doing and then resting…that is it. Everything is in harmony on the grand scale.” Here, Gary has found his comfort zone “embedded with creatures great and small”.

Honouring the call

Gary obtained a National Diploma in Graphic design at Wit’s Technicon and briefly worked in the advertising industry, as well as glass installation, before honouring the inner call to create art out of ‘charcoal’, his medium of preference. He then turned his home in Knysna into his studio and gallery. His work is of such astounding technical ability, that it is often thought to be photographic images, until closer inspection reveals the little dances in black and white, light and shade - a physical manifestation of inward journeys that make up the whole.

Gary has completed several private commissions and sold numerous works privately in South Africa and abroad. He knew it was time to let the world see his work in real time and was excited to share his work at Ivory Lodge and engage with guests on his artistic process.

Gary had a big reveal evening to guests and is creating an interactive piece that guests and staff have signed. The interactive piece which will be titled “Brothers in Arms” will be showcased when his two-month residency ends in early January 2023. Gary has completed artworks of an elephant, a lion, and a cheetah, whilst on site.

The stunning lion cub is part of the Styx pride and called The Quiet Storm after Storm, a student from MORE Field Guide College who is on her field guide internship at Lion Sands. The artwork was inspired by an image that Gary observed on Storm’s cell phone and that was enough for Gary to then tell his story. “The soul is captured in the eyes,” says Gary. At Gary’s request Storm added two zen strokes to this special artwork.

In sync with the African bush

Gary is constantly inspired by his surroundings, and in sync with the African bush. He has joined a few game drives where cheetah and leopard have caught his eye. He wrapped up his third piece, a cheetah called Mbasa meaning gift in Xhosa. Gary was inspired by the cheetah and the photographs he captured took him 'from inspiration to creation'. This artwork fits in perfectly with International Cheetah Day (4 Dec). Cheetahs are considered vulnerable by IUCN and their numbers are at a low of around 7500.

Gary’s personal quest is the pursuit of mastering his artistic potential, attempting to better understand light and perception and his medium, playing with thoughts and energies we all experience, but are seldom inclined to explore. Attention to detail and an unforgiving demand for the highest standards of perfection, often confines him to his studio for days of solitude and meditation, crafting his skills to levels not often achieved.

In the spirit of sharing his work further afield, Gary has recently joined the Instagram world @garydavischarcoal

Artwork & Images: Gary Davis

Contact morgan@lionsands.com should you be interested in pur