Arthur Kdav ( Keith Davis): An Artist Story

ARTHUR KDAV's LAST PAINTING  My dad, Keith Davis - Arthur Kdav, went to college at Knox College in Galesburg, IL.  When he was there he met some wonderful people.  Included in that group of people was a fellow art student, Tom Collins.  Tom and my dad continued to be in contact throughout my father's life.  When my father passed away, Tom Collins, stopped by my house to see some of my dads work again.  He decided to create some custom ice cream bowls - tea bowls for his children and close friends.  Below is a picture of my father's last painting along with the amazing ice cream bowls that Tom created.  Amazing that the colors Tom chose matched so wonderfully with Arthur Kdav's last painting.  A heartfelt thank you to Tom Collins.   This last painting also had a similar palette as two of his early portraits from Knox College.  I have posted the earlier paintings as well.  Our family isn't certain who the models were for the portrait he did - but confident it was comp

REFLECTIONS ON BALANCE IN MY FATHER'S WORK  Yesterday I was looking through some of Arthur Kdav's pastels.  This one was not titled.  I feel like it is "The Juggler".  The ultimate circus balancing act performance; how many balls can you keep in the air? Over the past year I have begun to study more closely my father's work.  I have started to see themes, repeat images and changes to his style through the decades.  I have also started to see how these commonalities relate to his life events.  Perhaps, for me, this has been part of the grieving process.   The idea and focus on balance can be found in much of his work.  Sometimes it is a quiet fulcrum within the painting, pastel, etching or drawing.  Other times it is a smack in your face, as above, the whole image is about balance.  His theme finds itself abstractly in the images he creates, but also physically in the shape of his iron pieces.  These pieces often have one notch on the back of the painting, carved i