Dempsey Paints Nature

"Daylily Days"

One of the most frequently asked questions of Dempsey Essick, or any other artist, is, “How do you find the subjects for your paintings?” The answer is that there is no answer. Inspiration comes from likely and unlikely places. The artist is always alert for that certain view, or arrangement of objects, that clicks in his imagination. And when it does he usually cannot rest until he has committed the scene to a final painting.

For “Daylily Days” it all started when Ruby Potts, from the small town of Advance in next-door Davie County, attended a seniors meeting at Elbaville UMC in Advance, NC where Dempsey was speaking on his favorite subject, bluebirds. Ruby showed Dempsey a photograph of her lily field. Something about the sheer profusion of blooms and the variety of colors inspired Dempsey. He asked Ruby to let him know when the field was in full bloom.

Rest of the story...

2006 ~ Edition: 999

Image size: 12 ¾ x 21 ~ Overall size: 16 ¾ x 24

$120 unframed

Companion pieces are "Ruby's Daylily" and "Lilies for a Day"

"Carolina Calling"

It's Dempsey's Tribute to His Home State

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Dempsey Essick is not just a bird lover; he is a bird fanatic. In addition to his beautiful depictions of birds in many of his paintings he is a past president of the N.C. Bluebird Society and speaks publicly about the plight of the Eastern Bluebird. He started a bird watching club in his own community and has come to be known as the Hummingbird Artist Outside his studio window he keeps a table full of tasty treats (everything from crushed egg shells to softened raisins to cornbread) for the birds so that, when he is working on a painting he can be constantly entertained by every type of songbird native to the Piedmont Region of North Carolina. Just recently, he was visited by an itinerant peacock who had undoubtedly heard about the free smorgasbord at the feeding station in the Essick back yard. The peacock hung around for a few days then departed for parts unknown.

For the rest of the story...

2008 ~ Edition 999

Image Size: 12 ½ x 16 ~ Overall Size: 15 ½ x 19

$120 unframed

Three hidden hummingbirds in the painting

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