Davis Perkins is a California landscape painter whose artistic journey has been as dynamic and inspiring as the subjects he paints. His life story weaves together adventure, service, and creativity, reflecting a rare blend of courage and artistry. With a long career as a smokejumper, firefighter, paramedic, and professional artist, Perkins brings a unique perspective to his canvases, one grounded in firsthand encounters with nature at its most powerful and untamed.
Perkins first served his country as a paratroop sergeant, beginning with the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne Division and later with the 12th Special Forces Group of the Army Reserve. His affinity for flight and the natural world led him to spend 13 summers parachuting into forest fires across the American West as a smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. These intense experiences, surrounded by dramatic landscapes and elemental forces, became the foundation of his artistic inspiration.
From the Skies to the Studio
During his years as a smokejumper, Perkins balanced the rigors of fieldwork with his pursuit of art. He attended the University of Oregon in the off-season and graduated with a degree in Fine Arts. His early paintings soon caught the attention of major art institutions, earning him solo exhibitions at the Alaskan State Museum and the Smithsonian Institution Air & Space Museum. Both museums later added his work to their permanent collections, recognizing his ability to translate real-world experience into deeply felt visual narratives.
Perkins’ art also found a place of honor within the military community. One of his paintings is part of the United States Air Force Art Collection and hangs in the Pentagon. In 2015, his excellence was further acknowledged when he was named a Signature Member of the Oil Painters of America, a distinction that highlights his mastery of the medium and his contribution to the field of representational oil painting.
The Intersection of Art and Humanity
Although Perkins’ landscapes often evoke peace and reflection, his personal life has been marked by action and humanitarian service. Alongside his painting career, he continues to serve as a paramedic and is an active member of the Disaster Medical Assistance Team of the Department of Health and Human Services. His compassion and dedication have taken him across the globe on medical relief missions to Haiti, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Liberia during the Ebola outbreak, Vanuatu, Nepal, Lesvos in Greece to aid refugees, Mosul in Iraq during the Battle of Mosul, and most recently, Ukraine, where he worked with an international medical team amid the ongoing conflict.
In 2007, Perkins climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and created a series of paintings inspired by the view from the summit. His travels and humanitarian work continue to shape his artistic vision, infusing his paintings with a sense of awe, humility, and deep respect for the resilience of both nature and humanity.
Artistic Vision and Process
Perkins’ paintings are distinguished by their realism, energy, and emotional depth. He draws direct inspiration from his encounters with nature in its rawest form, often shaped by years of observing landscapes while parachuting into remote wilderness areas. As he explains, “The experience of nature in its rawest form first inspired my paintings.”
His process begins by blocking in the essential values from dark to light, always maintaining a consistent light source to unify the composition. Whether painting en plein air or in his studio, he aims to capture not just the appearance of a scene but its mood and movement. Perkins frequently starts with a wash of color, then uses a palette knife to add texture and depth. This technique allows him to work freely and spontaneously, preserving the natural flow of the scene and avoiding overworked details.
His style is loose yet intentional, balancing structure with expressiveness. Each brushstroke conveys his deep connection to the landscape and his lifelong habit of careful observation, a discipline first learned from his time in the field as a firefighter and paratrooper.
Inspirations and Influences
Perkins’ artistic influences span both classic and contemporary painters. He draws inspiration from Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, Frank Wooten, and Robert Henri, whose works embody mastery of light and atmosphere. He also admires modern artists such as Richard Schmid, Matt Smith, and Lynn Boggess, whose techniques align with his emphasis on spontaneity and emotional realism.
Through these influences, Perkins has cultivated a visual language that celebrates the natural world while conveying his personal experiences of risk, beauty, and endurance. His landscapes are more than depictions of place, they are meditations on life’s intensity and transience.
A Glimpse into the Artwork: “High Tide at China Camp”
One of Perkins’ distinguished pieces, “High Tide at China Camp,” exemplifies his ability to merge realism with atmosphere. The oil painting captures the tranquil yet powerful rhythm of the coast, where light shimmers across the water and clouds drift with gentle momentum. His use of texture and color evokes both serenity and movement, immersing the viewer in a moment that feels alive and fleeting.
The work reflects Perkins’ lifelong dialogue with nature its calm, its unpredictability, and its capacity to mirror the human spirit.
Conclusion: The Spirit Behind the Canvas
For Davis Perkins, painting is not merely an artistic pursuit but an extension of a life defined by exploration, courage, and service. His landscapes are testaments to the beauty of the natural world and the resilience of the human heart. Each canvas tells a story of adventure, compassion, and the unyielding desire to capture life’s essence in color and form.
Whether parachuting into wildfires, offering medical aid in disaster zones, or painting the quiet majesty of a coastal sunrise, Perkins approaches every endeavor with the same devotion and integrity. His art stands as both a personal reflection and a universal tribute to the enduring connection between humanity and nature.