User:PGamble85/sandbox

Stephen Anthony Davids (SAD) (Born xxxx) is a British graphic artist whose work combines painting, drawing and sculpture, working largely with salvaged wood and found objects. His work is centred around "capturing humorous views of the world and observations of daily life, masculinity, race, class and social history" His work has exhibited in London and New York.

Early Years
"I do remember when I was 10 years old that a teacher told me I had a very strong line. I didn’t understand her at the time, but as I've gone on, I've always been told I've got a very strong graphic element in my work. I used to collect MAD magazine as a child, and I remember that I just loved the way it was illustrated–there was something about a black and white graphic line that totally resonated with me."

Technique
At the heart of his technique is a strong graphic line "My bold line is a direct extension of my psychological state. In terms of my style of painting, it is immediate, controlled, slapstick, frenetic, impulsive and intentional. " The use of found objects as a canvas is another characteristic. "Nineteenth century wooden snowboards, Victorian ledger sheets, salvaged oak, scrubbed and scribbled on desk lids,  no matter the surface, it’s all fair game in Davids’ studio" The life of the found object or material being a strong requirement to be used for his work as well as the form of the object - "I'm looking for the most obscure piece of wood that I can actually work on based on the form and the shape"

f-art
In 2004 Davids and Richard Boxall established f-art, an Independent art store in Shoreditch, London. Between 2004 and 2009 f-art became renowned for "quality artwork, mid-century pieces and low artifacts"

Influences
"I have been influenced by many artists over the years and have a primarily been inspired by artists whose work has a strong graphic line. I was turned onto Jean Michel Basquiat as a young man, and it just set me on fire."