When I first saw David Dupree’s colorful, detailed paintings at Studio 53, I was blown away. The energy produced by the techniques this self-taught artist used including pointillism (painting small dots and/or brush strokes) and impasto (created with a thick application of paint and a palette knife to create texture and a fabulous 3-D effect). David’s use of brilliant color paired with the techniques created paintings you can look into for hours. I particularly like using a magnifying glass (strange, I know ... I got one for a Halloween party decades ago when I went as Inspector Clouseau) or, better still, looking at his, or any, paintings on a computer, zooming in and out as you move around the canvas. Either approach enhances the experience of whatever occupation, wildlife, garden scene, etc. is depicted.

Right now, a memorial show featuring so many of his paintings is on, at Studio 53 until late July. Gallery owners Terry Seaman and Heidi Seidelhuber have some of David’s paintings from their private collection up on the third floor. The second floor is where you’ll find David’s work during this memorial show.

The last time I saw David was during the solo show reception on the July First Friday in 2022. David and I had spoken at previous opening receptions, but on this occasion we seriously talked about a feature. His wife, the artist Gerda Andersen, was there too and would be part of the interview as well. Due to one of his health issues, David’s voice was almost a whisper. So Gerda would help out when clarification was needed, and I planned to email questions as well. We were all looking forward to it. Sadly, David’s health took a turn for the worse as we were firming up a starting interview date. On July 16, David Dupree left this world to continue his soul’s journey. 

Here’s a little of his background, gleaned from an article written by Belfast-based abstract artist David Estey (also an exhibitor at Studio 53) in winter 2022 for the Maine Arts Journal:  David began painting during his last year at Rhode Island College where he was a philosophy and history major. Post graduation, he traveled the country working at a wide variety of jobs: on oil rigs, as a house painter, ranch hand, apple picker, bridge construction worker, mechanic in a fish processing plant, among others. Said David (Dupree): “All of these places, and traveling to and from them, have given me much spirit food from which to create paintings and drawings.”

Spirit food indeed. The scenes he recreated from memory are detailed and color-soaked; pair this with the variety and application of brush strokes he uses ... mesmerizing! One of my favorite paintings in the show is “Second Cutting.” The sun’s rays in yellow, gold, and red reach across the canvas in all directions with peeks of the blue sky. In the forefront, the stumps of harvested trees, and bottom right, just above the artist’s signature, there’s a truck with an attached harvester and two men, one of whom is lying on his back, under the harvester, mind you ... My first thought, until I zoomed in to investigate, was that the man had been accidentally killed or something – until, until I saw a wee tool in his right hand. Phew! I do have a tendency to “go dark.” The sun’s reflected in a babbling river, as trucks pass by carrying the cut trees. There are farms in the distance – cows and sheep graze in pastures, fenced fields, hay rolls … You can spend a great deal of time inside one of David Dupree’s paintings – and I guarantee you will.

“Weekend At the Dam.” After a quick scan, I start moving around in the painting with the narrow road just above the dam. What caught my attention was the traffic on this narrow mountain road moving in both directions. Are they “Bondmobiles” (yes, as in James) or something? Then I recall the narrow, and I mean narrow, roads out west driving through the Valley of the Gods (I think it was – hey, it was 1995 or something); narrow, narrow road sans guardrails. There was a car down below at one point … must have been trying to pass another car (insert shudder here). But … I digress.

After briefly obsessing over possible traffic accidents, my gaze follows the road with the cars to the left side of the painting and I discover a stairway going up the mountain! And, what’s this now? Below that, people are walking up this primitive walkway (no railing with a sheer drop below – kinda like at Arches National Park); there’s a group of three boys rock climbing just above the rushing water; the trees are half peony (cos of the way the tops “open”), half birch … Boats of various sizes are on the water, some people fishing and all that jazz… and there are campers, canoes … Adventure on canvas! Gotta love it.

There are a few sports-related paintings of golf and ice hockey games. There are a few garden paintings of what could be at his home in North Waterford. “Crabapple Blossom” is a pleasant scene with chickens, flowers, bird feeders, flowers and ferns and, to the far left, a clothesline with shirts hanging out to dry. Blue jays and others are flocking to the feeders and the trees. This one will bring a smile to your face. It’s home.

“Lights From Las Vegas.” There’s a fun story behind this one. In the painting you’ll see David’s small camper, animals eating what little vegetation there is in the desert. As Terry told it, David had fallen asleep and when he woke and looked out one of his windows he saw brilliant yellow appearing to rise from the horizon. He thought it was the sun. It wasn’t. What he saw was "Lights from Las Vegas.” I’ve never been to Las Vegas or Nevada, for that matter, but wow! From this painting I gotta say, David was in the better location!

Terry Seaman’s lovely, heartfelt tribute to his friend included this: “David painted mainly from memory of his earlier experiences. This working from memory became the focus of his technique and allowed him to let his imagination perhaps improve on reality. Whatever, it sure worked for him. He said painting from memory helped him better understand his own history and philosophy.”

To the artist who signed all of his work simply “David” I say thank you for your memories; they’ve taken me to places I’d yet to travel.

The David Dupree Memorial Show runs through the end of July at Studio 53 at 53 Townsend Ave., Boothbay Harbor. The July show also features new work by Heidi of the Pacific Northwest where she and Terry call home.