“I paint scenes from nature, flowers, history, and human form, often combining them with an abstract quality to create interest and intrigue.”
David “Buzz” Baldwin
David "Buzz" Baldwin grew up on a farm outside a small town in central-east Pennsylvania, where he developed an early and profound connection to nature. This bond steered him toward a career in landscape architecture, where his life-long fascination with plant materials and natural settings thrived. This profession honed his design skills and ultimately laid the foundation for his journey into the art world.
Raised by a dentist and a nurse who chose the tranquility of a farm for their family, his upbringing was filled with memorable outdoor experiences. Although the farm’s land was leased by others, Buzz fondly recalls gardening with his father, watching plants flourish from seed to fruit, and exploring their 72-acre spread of fields and woods, where he first learned to appreciate the intricate beauty of the natural world.
“I am fascinated by the mystery and the often times hidden, almost microscopic beauty of nature, especially texture and color. This examination, sometimes carried out through my own photography, can reveal visual ties and links to other worldly elements and visions in my paintings.”
Encouraged by his parents, he initiated his knack for drawing into oil painting at the tender age of nine. Despite not pursuing visual art during his formative years, the passion lingered, waiting for the right moment to resurface.
Unsure of his life’s direction, he initially studied Ornamental Horticulture at a small private college in Pennsylvania. After two years, he discovered Landscape Architecture—a field that beautifully merged his interest in plants with his latent talent in drawing. This discovery, combined with an adventuresome spirit, led him to Louisiana State University, where he earned a professional degree in Landscape Architecture and earned the Dean’s Medal for Outstanding Academic Achievement.
In 1976, he moved to Texas and joined several firms before founding his own landscape architectural practice in 1984. Specializing in large scale design such as parks and master-planned communities, he found great success and fulfillment, believing that landscape architectural design is, in essence, an art form. The fundamental elements of design permeated all aspects of his work, whether it was creating a 100-acre master plan for a park down to the scale of designing an intricate paving pattern for an urban plaza. Whenever the opportunity arose (the right client and where it was practical), Buzz added artistic elements into his projects, such as the the ascending sculptural forms announcing the approach to a neighborhood park pictured here.
In 2007, with his children grown and more free time on his hands, he reignited his passion for oil painting after a hiatus of nearly 45 years. By 2020, with full retirement in sight, he sold his company to a large multi-disciplinary firm, turning his full creative efforts to his art.
“My art is constantly evolving. The beauty of nature can be very spiritual. The goal of my work is for it to be intriguing, thought provoking, and sometimes containing an element of surprise.”
Inspiration for Buzz’s art is sparked by a myriad of sources—something he has seen, places he has visited, or even the imagery evoked by song lyrics. Though he has successfully painted both landscapes and realistic subjects, his current work uniquely blends these elements into what he describes as “abstract realism”, combining realistic subjects in an abstract context. This style starts with an underpainting using a variety of media which may include a combination of inks, charcoal, markers, spray paint. and stencils. He then completes the painting with oils which allows him to use cool and warm colors to direct the eye to a focal point, create depth, and emphasize highlights.
His studio, located on the second floor of his home in a Dallas suburb, offers a panoramic view of a wooded greenbelt with a creek and trails. The natural light and ever-changing scenery provide a constant stream of inspiration. With his love for all musical genres, from rock-and-roll to country and classical, music plays an essential role in his creative process.
As an artist, Buzz’s goal is to let his painting style continually evolve while conveying the inherent beauty of God’s creation. The world’s myriad landscapes and experiences serve as a ceaseless source of subject matter, prompting he and his wife, Jan, to continue their travels, ever inspired by the miraculous beauty they encounter.
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Buzz in his studio