Five Questions with Artist Tracy Davies

Interview and Photo by Jason Setnyk

Toronto, Ontario – Tracy Davies, a talented artist with roots in Newfoundland, Canada, has made the Beaches of Old Toronto her artistic home, dedicating herself to her craft as a full-time working artist.

Tracy’s early life was steeped in the rugged beauty of Newfoundland, where her family’s prospecting activities eventually led them to the mining town of Timmins, Ontario. It was in this northern Ontario community that Tracy’s artistic talent began to shine. As a young artist, she earned recognition by winning numerous competitions and receiving invitations to participate in gallery shows, sparking her passion for the visual arts.

However, during her time at Danforth Collegiate’s art program in Toronto, Ontario, Tracy fell in love with acrylic as her primary medium. Her unique approach to acrylic painting involves blending watercolorist techniques with the challenge of glazing layers and incorporating various media like ink, paper, and pastes into her artwork.

As Tracy transitioned into adulthood, she made a significant move to Cornwall, Ontario, where she purchased a commercial property and realized her dream of opening the Cailuan Gallery in the heart of downtown. From 2016 to 2021, Tracy nurtured the 4000-square-foot space for five years, hosting exhibitions, providing art classes, offering studio rentals, and supplying art materials while supporting local artists through shows and events.

The global pandemic brought about a period of reflection for Tracy. As she painted full-time during lockdowns, she rekindled her dream of becoming a full-time working artist, creating art daily for her own fulfillment. This epiphany led her to sell her property in Cornwall and boldly return to her artistic roots in Toronto.

Tracy’s creative journey is marked by years of imaginative exploration and intuitive design. She seeks to go beyond traditional brush and paint techniques, aiming to breathe life into her artworks through the captivating process of mixed media. Her hands-on approach allows her to immerse herself in the layers of her art, truly becoming the author of each piece and infusing it with her authenticity. Tracy’s work beautifully combines mixed media elements with a unique approach to color blending, resulting in compositions that reflect her passion for the abstract and contemporary.

Tracy’s journey took her from Newfoundland to Timmins to Cornwall and back to the vibrant art scene of Toronto, where she did her schooling many years ago. Her trek serves as a testament to the power of artistic passion and the pursuit of one’s dreams.

Five Questions with The Seeker

1 – Tell us about your creative process. Do you plan each piece, or does the art take shape as you work?

“I prefer to work intuitively. I like to add colour to a blank canvas and let it drip and run,, I turn the canvas, and maybe add some water with a sprayer, adding more colours and water. I’ll look at it and see if anything comes to me. If I see something, I will build it out once it’s dry. I enjoy the playfulness and feel my true creativity comes instinctively. Starting a piece this way takes away “the white canvas fear” and the anxiety of making mistakes. I can start a painting this way with a goal in mind, but I stay loose and let the piece speak to me. There are times when I will start with a plan, but I much prefer being free and intuitive. It’s playful – and who doesn’t want to play?”

2 – What inspires you to create art?

“I can be inspired by anything. The urge is always there. Shapes in nature, colours in the sky, even patterns in a dress.”

3 – What is your favourite piece of art that you’ve created, and why is it your favourite piece?

“My favourite piece is called “An Old Dance with a Raven” It came to me intuitively just after I lost my good friend Libby. Ravens like shiny objects, and Libby shone. Always happy, always smiling. The dripping paint may represent tears. The Raven is revered as a spiritual figure; perhaps this could provide a connection to my friend. A clock face ticking down – our time together? The dance may be a correlation of us painting together, an ancient church window – her faith and her passing. I don’t know. The painting was instinctive. It was born from something sub-conscious.”

4 – Do you have any tips or advice for artists just starting out?

“Everyone has an opinion, and it’s none of your business what that is! Following this advice will save you from a great deal of wasted emotion. Take criticism constructively. Do what you love, and your audience/supporters/buyers will come. Just put one painted foot in front of the other.”

5 – Do you prefer realistic or more abstract art styles and why?

“I prefer a more abstract style. Anything realistic has the feeling of a photograph, in my opinion. I realize painting realistically takes serious work and talent, but I also feel that creating in a more nonsynchronous manner and pulling it off can be very challenging, more rewarding, and offer more flavour to the viewer as each abstract artist would most likely have very differing styles. I will do either style if needed but much prefer a more contemporary approach to art.”