Artist Bio
David Gary is a plein air landscape painter from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, whose work is rooted in a lifelong connection to the natural beauty of his home state. Growing up hunting and fishing among Louisiana’s marshes, bayous, moss-draped cypress trees, and quiet rural places gave David a deep appreciation for the landscapes that continue to inspire his paintings. Whether capturing the glow of a sunset over open water, the atmosphere of an old plantation landscape, or the fleeting effects of light in the Louisiana outdoors, his work seeks to convey a strong sense of place, memory, and mood.
Before turning seriously to painting, David founded Redstick Internet in 1997, one of Louisiana’s earliest web development firms. His work in web design gave him years of daily experience with composition, color, visual communication, and creative problem-solving. Eventually, the desire to work beyond the digital world led him to follow in the footsteps of his mother, artist Rhea Gary, and begin painting in oil.
David studied at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, where he built a foundation in classical painting techniques. His mother had previously studied there under renowned artist and instructor Auseklis Ozols, with whom David also studied for two years. His training also included instruction from respected Academy artists such as Phil Sandusky, Billy Solitario, Jean Cassels, and others, each helping him develop the skills to translate direct observation into expressive, atmospheric paintings.
For the past several years, David has focused primarily on plein air painting, working outdoors to better understand light, color, atmosphere, and the character of the landscape. He is currently President of The Art Guild of Louisiana, founder of Baton Rouge Plein Air, and a member of Oil Painters of America, the American Impressionist Society, the National Oil & Acrylic Painters’ Society, the Outdoor Painters Society, and the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. He has participated in the Shadows-on-the-Teche Plein Air Competition three times, attended Plein Air South five times, and has taken more three-day painting workshops than he can count.
David’s paintings have been exhibited in numerous shows and collections across Louisiana and are recognized for their honest, personal portrayal of the state’s landscapes. His goal is to continue growing as an artist while preserving, through paint, the places and moments that define the spirit of Louisiana.
David finds his greatest inspiration in his faith and family, which ground and motivate him. When not painting, he enjoys hunting, fishing, gardening, cooking, and photography.
Meet David Gary
Artist Statement
Having grown up in south Louisiana, the landscape of the South is ingrained in my soul, especially the marsh and cypress-lined waters. Nostalgic, I return to coastal estuaries, fishing communities, bayou vistas, and aging structures for inspiration. The abandoned, the simple, the solitude. An aging boat resting with dignity in a coastal marina. A crabber, idling out to his daily grind beneath spacious skies. A shuttered restaurant with its memories of generations who gathered there for more than just a meal. I find beauty in the drive along bayou highways where shrimp boats are steps away from the road and where homes, perched on pilings, make these communities what they are….resilient.
The increasing loss of our Cajun culture, family-owned farmland, and once vast wetlands makes me want to celebrate the history, adaptability, and resourcefulness of the hard-working people of my beautiful state through my work.
As an outdoor painter, I don’t mind the ever-changing light conditions, the heat, the humidity or the bugs. The unpredictable conditions are what makes it a challenge. Painting what I see “alla prima”, or “all at once”, is my preferred way to work, and I hope the immediacy shows in the impressions I make.
What People Are Saying
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Discover the beauty of landscape
Take a moment to explore my gallery. Every painting tells a story, capturing the essence of nature’s beauty. Whether you’re an art lover or simply appreciate the outdoors, you’re sure to find something that resonates with you. Dive into the details, and let the colors and landscapes inspire you.