Daily Inspiration: Meet David Elmer

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Elmer.

Hi David , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was inspired to start painting after viewing the works of Cincinnati local artist, Priya Rama, who paints what she sees in her migraines. Her colors are astonishing and the imagery is literally cerebral. I asked Priya to do a custom piece for my home and we struck up a friendship. Although I don’t suffer migraines, I’ve always had surreal dreams full of abstract imagery and color but I never took the time to articulate them. Not only did Priya create a unique art piece for me, she also became my mentor providing basic guidance and instruction on creating abstract art. The most inspiring thing I learned from Priya was her ability to take a debilitating health condition and turn it into something positive. This ethos is at the heart of my work; my purpose for creating art is simply to convey positive energy and to put smiles on viewers faces. I rarely name my work, and I never sign the front of the canvas, because I want everything about the art to be how the viewer feels and interprets it. I’ve been fortunate enough to have a few local galleries sell my work and/or feature it in juried and solo exhibits. I paint under the name “Mason Maria” in honor of my wife and children (Mason is our son and Maria is our daughter). I owned and operated a small gallery/studio, featuring 4 other local artists, for a short period of time but eventually had to close it as a result of the COVID-pandemic.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I very much enjoy making art and the interaction I have with galleries, buyers, art enthusiasts, etc. It was a difficult decision to close my gallery but it was a financial reality due to circumstances beyond my control (COVID’s devastating impact on all retail) but sometimes you just have to “weather storms” and move forward with a different game plan. Fortunately, moving my studio space back into the home basement was actually a blessing in disguise because it provided me more time and immediate access to paint when I wanted to. I also found a local street art fair held six times a year where I ended up selling more art via that event than I did at the gallery; so, those were two pleasant outcomes born out of an unfortunate event.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I enjoy creating brightly colored, whimsical abstract works that often feature floral or landscape/vista scenes. I work mostly with acrylics, but I like to mix in watercolors, inks, stained varnishes, etc. I mostly use a combination of brushes and pallet knives to apply these mediums to a canvas, but I’ll also use sponges or my fingers as well. I’m a messy painter! I’ve worked with canvases as small as 10X10 and as big as 36×48. I prefer working on bigger pieces. What sets my work apart from others is that I use a unique high gloss varnish that makes the surface look and feel as hard a glass. Believe it or not, I want people to touch my art. Touching art adds a whole different experience to the process of engaging, interacting with and embracing a piece.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
There are a lot of people that deserve a shout out; Of course, Priya who I mentioned at the beginning of this article. Also, my parents and extended family who have supported me in more ways than one. Additionally, I want to thank all the galleries and their staff who have believed in me enough to sell or showcase my art including York Street Gallery in Kentucky, One Main Gallery, Westheimer Gallery and the Algin Art Gallery in Ohio and well as the Evendale Cultural Arts Center and the Mt. Adams Street Art Fair. A massive thank you to all my friends and collectors who have purchased my art and/or have commissioned pieces. Thank you to all my work colleagues who have cheered me on. Finally, I sincerely love and appreciate my wife, Kim and our children, Mason and Maria, who inspire me daily and give me true meaning and purpose in life as their husband and father.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masonmariaart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/masonmariaartgallery