A visual feast greets any guest at Beaumont-Wilshire resident David Friedman’s studio on NE 38th Avenue, just off of Skidmore Street. There, the tools and materials of his art vie for center stage with his creations themselves.
Friedman had no particular interest in the visual arts until, out of curiosity, he took a Hebrew alphabet calligraphy course in college. This sparked a lifelong passion—first a degree in art and painting at the University of Illinois and eventually a dual career as graphic designer and fine artist.
Friedman is a self-described “eclecticist,” and his creations bear this out. Working in media as varied as acrylics, digital painting, oils, mixed media, pastels, and paper cutting, his styles range from pure abstraction to Picasso-like modernism. His subjects range equally widely, among them insects, landscapes, birds, pets, botanicals, portraits, politics, and more.
Among the avant-garde media he explores is digital painting in which he reworks a digitized photograph into a strikingly compelling portrait. His Portrait Project Series depicts wonderfully expressive likenesses of subjects who range from well-known political figures like Elizabeth Warren to familiar Street Roots personalities—hinting, perhaps, at the artist’s philosophical/political leanings.
Friedman often returns to papercutting, which he is actively pursuing at present. This medium originated shortly after the invention of paper in 4th century China. Since then, the medium of cut paper has spread worldwide and has been used by such artists as Henri Matisse and Kara Walker, whose works have been exhibited in museums internationally. Consistent with Friedman’s restless artistic eclecticism, he has invented his own unique and remarkable variation on this ancient artistic medium. First, he laminates colored paper to the back of the black paper “canvas” from which his images will emerge. Then, using hand-made wooden “mini stilts,” he elevates the piece above a white background. This results in a general wash of colors reflected off the colored backing onto the white background, where it is visible through apertures he has meticulously excised from the originally solid black sheet. Were I forced to choose a favorite Friedman work using this technique, it can be found on his website at www.friedart.com/majorpaperworks, then scrolling down to “Sea Scape.” There, puffy summer clouds float in a light blue sky, admitting filigreed sunbeams through a pastel pink early sunset floating above a dark blue rippled sea. But there are many lovely runners-up.
When not hard at work on his next creation, David can often be found accompanying his sweet pup, Poppi, in the off-leash dog run area of Wilshire Park. He is a founding board member of Portland Open Studios, a board member of Art in the Pearl, and a proud member of the Guild of American Papercutters. His work is currently shown at the Artistic Portland Gallery in Beaumont Village as well as the Alberta Street Gallery at NE 19th Avenue and Alberta Street. Portraits and other works can be commissioned by calling FriedArt at 503-757-5595. Follow David on social media via @friedart.