Artwork copyright Debra Davis. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission.

Tracks, 1996

Debra Davis
American (born 1960)

Location: Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia

About the Artwork

Artist Debra Davis painted Tracks after observing the striking blue shadows cast by animals in the snow. She notes, "January of 1996 was cold and snowy in the Yakima valley. Several times, I cross-country skied along the Tieton River near the headquarters of the Oak Creek Wildlife Area… Back in my studio, Tracks began to appear. It started as an unfocused watercolor. I drew the elk over and over until I got them right. I added pastel, collage, and more watercolor. The surface of the piece became interesting as I tried to bury the shapes of animal tracks and other images under layers of paint and pastel. I stopped drawing and painting when all the parts seemed to be working together."

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Washington State Arts Commission.

About the Artist

Northwest artist and naturalist Debra Davis creates paintings and sculptures that are strongly influenced by her summer job as a seasonal forestry technician with the U.S. Forest Service. A longtime resident of Central Washington, Davis received her Master of Fine Arts degree from Central Washington University in Ellensburg and taught art at Yakima Valley College.