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Chester County Press

Local places rendered with startling clarity

06/06/2016 10:40AM ● By J. Chambless

'Warm, Fresh Air'

By John Chambless
Staff Writer

The title of the solo show by Heather Davis at the Longwood Gallery, “Bold Color, Vibrant Light,” is certainly appropriate. The paintings do seem to glow, and Davis achieves startling clarity with her oils in this, her first show at the Kennett Square gallery.

You'll recognize the places depicted in “Thunderhead at the Folly,” “Corbels,” “Folly 1” and “Folly 2,” which explore the Painters Folly mansion on Route 1 in Chadds Ford. Davis also captures the sunlit warmth of the wall of the Kuerner farmhouse in “Warm, Fresh Air,” which places the farm made famous by Andrew Wyeth in a different perspective – from the hill to the south, so it also takes in the sweep of the renowned hill across the road.

In her depictions of water, Davis achieves an almost three-dimensional quality. The reflected skies in “Old Bedford Village” and the smaller “Skunk Cabbages” have a luminous quality that you almost want to touch.

The brick sidewalk and historic architecture of “St. Pete's Bakery” are dazzling, placing you right in the middle of the town. A smaller work, “The Architect,” is not as showy, but don't overlook this closeup of a bird in a mud and straw nest against an old barn beam. In its quiet way, it's just as impressive as the exterior scenes.

Davis, who made a decision to become a full-time painter only three years ago, has picked up several prestigious awards since then, and has clearly found her niche in rendering plein-air scenes in Chester County and Bedford County. Stop by at the gallery and step into her world of color and light.

Longwood Art Gallery (200 E. State St., Kennett Square) hosting “Bold Color, Vibrant Light” through July 16. For more information, call 610-444-0146 or visit www.longwoodartgallery.com.

To contact Staff Writer John Chambless, email [email protected].