Mt. Iron artist has online gallery
Native American portraits are featured
by Angie Riebe

MOUNTAIN IRON — Artist Jay Davenport spends much of his time at his studio and gallery in rural Mountain Iron.

And visitors are always welcome, by appointment, to take a look at his woodcut prints and watercolor landscapes and portraits.

But there is now an easier way to view Davenport’s art — via his recently launched online art gallery at www.davenportartstudio.com.

“It’s a way to experience my art without having to make the drive,” he said. “But it will also convince people to come out to the gallery for a personal tour.”

The Web site features more than 40 images of the artist’s work, including several of his woodcut prints and landscape watercolors.

It also includes many from his latest exhibition, “Born in America,” a series of large watercolor portraits of Native Americans which Davenport based on archival photographs taken from around 1890 to 1910. Davenport spent years sketching and researching the portraits — including that of a Navajo boy, a woman and child, and a Sioux tribal leader — before setting color to the paintings.

The online gallery also gives directions to Davenport’s gallery and studio, pricing information, and updates and biographical information on Davenport’s careers as a physician and artist.

Though his main profession was as an orthopedic surgeon, Davenport has been creating art for years.

Born in Kansas City, Davenport attended medical school at the University of Kansas, where he met an artist who created woodcuts — where blocks of wood are carved, inked and set on paper. Davenport gave the art form a try, with works including that of a loon, whitetail deer and Norway pine.

In 1974, Davenport built his home in Great Scott Township, and in 1983 he opened his own medical office Virginia. He decorated the hallways with his artwork, painted mostly on weekends. Many of the watercolors, depicting Minnesota scenes, were painted at the site — trees in a forest, a farm house, a marina.

Now retired, Davenport is focusing on his art. In 2005, he designed and built his studio near his home.

The artist is planning a show in November, featuring new works and mediums. Details will be posted on his Web site.

He also continues to receive media coverage for his work, including a feature story in the July 2007 issue of Minnesota Medicine, a journal of the Minnesota Medical Association.

“The quality of the images online gives people a pretty good idea of what my art is all about,” he said. It’s easy to pick out favorites, then come and see them in person.”