Artist Bradley Scott Davis, based in the California Building, has embarked on an artistic journey known as the Daily Frog Project.
Originating during the pandemic, the project involves painting a frog each day. Davis has done this for over 1,000 consecutive days and has showcased nearly 500 species so far.
Through his work, Davis aims to highlight the critical issues of destruction and deforestation that threaten these amphibians. The Daily Frog project explores an important question about our future: The frogs are vanishing. What does it mean for human beings?
Davis’s background: He originally started his journey in post-secondary education as a pre-med student, following in the footsteps of his doctor father. Davis soon realized that his true passion lay elsewhere.
Inspired by a deep love for poetry and zoology, he eventually transitioned to painting, a medium that allowed him to merge his artistic expression with his fascination for the natural world.
After some travels, he found himself attending art school in Bath, England, where he honed his skills and established connections within the art community.
This period significantly influenced his artistic style, which has always centered on portraying the beauty and fragility of nature. For Davis, nature is not just a subject but our heritage and a crucial part of our future. One of his main purposes in life is to “inspire love for nature” through his art.
After attending Art-A Whirl® one year, he settled into a space in the California Building. Davis was captivated by the artistic energy of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, noting the “poetic buzz” of the community in Northeast Minneapolis.
The California Building, in particular, stood out to him for having a “clean, mature, and beautiful energy.” This energy resonated with his experiences in Bath, making it feel like the best place for his studio. Despite having one of the smallest in the building, Davis describes the space as a concentrated incubator where his daily frog paintings come to life.
The Daily Frog project, which Davis estimates has produced around 2,500 paintings to date, serves a dual purpose. Each day, he meticulously captures a different frog species on an eight-inch canvas, documenting its unique features and characteristics. These paintings are not just artworks; they are catalysts for conversations about conservation and biodiversity. By sharing his daily creations on social media, Davis hopes to inspire a sense of wonder and appreciation for these often-overlooked creatures.
Approximately 2,000 of Davis’s daily frogs are on exhibit in the On2Gallery on the second floor of the California Building, which is open to the public through August. Twenty percent of the proceeds from sales will support Third Millennium Alliance, an organization dedicated to rainforest preservation and restoration, an issue that is close to Davis’ heart.
Reflecting on his artistic journey, Davis expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to meaningful conversations through his paintings. His love for painting, cultivated since his early days in New York City, has found a purpose in raising awareness about environmental conservation. Being part of the arts community in Northeast Minneapolis is a source of inspiration and connection for Davis, who views his fellow artists as kindred spirits in a shared commitment to artistic expression and advocacy.
Through the Daily Frog project, Bradley Scott Davis invites viewers not only to admire his artistic skill but also to contemplate the broader implications of habitat loss and species extinction. His paintings serve as poignant reminders of the intricate web of life that surrounds us, a web that needs our protection so future generations can enjoy it as well.
Links:
Bradley’s website: https://heptagon-alpaca-9br7.squarespace.com
Third Millennium Alliance: https://www.tma.earth
Article and photos by Lisa Roy