Featured Artist Barb Davison

Artist Barb Davison uses reclaimed natural materials to capture the spirit and beauty of wild places. Enjoy her portfolio and visit her website to see more.

“Prairie Sentinel” acrylic-painted melaleuca tree bark in handmade floating frame, 14″ x 14″

I create artwork from natural and reclaimed materials that already carry a sense of history—palm fronds gathered from the ground, sea grape leaves preserved at the edge of their fragility, melaleuca bark shed in sculptural curls, and wood objects discovered in garage sales and transformed through pyrography.

“Guardian at the Garden” acrylic on board and hawk/pine tree painted on back of glass, melaleuca as red cliffs, 20″ x 14″

I’m drawn to surfaces marked by time, weather, and use. I treat each one as a collaborator rather than a blank canvas. Their textures, imperfections, and organic forms shape the direction of every piece.

“Lakewood reflections” magnolia leaf painted in acrylic, in handmade floating frame, 14″ x 8.5″

I grew up in Colorado Springs with my three sisters, and movement has been a defining part of my life. As a military brat, I lived in different places around the country, learning early how deeply people are shaped by place, memory, and change. Later, as a flight attendant, I continued living in motion—crossing landscapes, meeting people from all walks of life, and noticing the details others often pass by.

“Whispers in the Aspen” wood burning/oil painted butterfly, 10.5″ x 18″

Now that I’m back in Colorado, I feel a renewed connection to both the natural world and the idea of return. That perspective influences the way I gather materials and the stories I choose to reveal through them.

“Whispers of Tropics” acrylic painted palm frond in handmade floating frame, 15.5″ x 24″

Using pyrography, paint, and drawing, I work with the grain of weathered wood, the ridges of fallen fronds, and the delicate resilience of leaves and bark to create pieces that blur the line between artifact and artwork. My work centers on preservation, transformation, and the beauty of what is often overlooked. I’m interested in how discarded or shed materials can hold memory, resilience, and quiet presence.

“Whispers of Wild” acrylic painted melaleuca tree bark, 14.5″ x 23″

Each finished piece reflects both where the material has been and what it can become, inviting viewers to slow down, look closely, and reconsider the value of what remains.

Barb Davison invits you to follow on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Want to stay current on cutting edge business articles from Artsy Shark, plus artist features, and an invitation to the next Call for Artists? Click below to sign up for our twice-monthly email. You’ll get all this plus opportunities and special offers that you can’t get anywhere else!