About

About Dave Larson

I am an artist, craftsman, and designer in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I’ve been here since 1988, and am a blacksmith serving our local building community. I work in watercolor, sculpture, metals, and photography. I’m interested in all things outdoors, especially river rafting and mountain biking. Originally from Massachusetts, I’ve lived in the American Southwest since 1982.

Ironwork & Blacksmithing
Since 1990, I’ve been serving builders and their clients since 1988 with fine quality forged ironwork for homes. My work includes handrails, gates, lighting, furniture, and fireplace screens and doors. I serve Santa Fe, and other communities in northern New Mexico.

Photography
I photograph with both digital and film cameras, and have extensive training in photography. I use a Nikon D5100 digital camera, and use digital imaging software in my digital photographic workflow. I print my digital photos using archival-quality printers, and have framed/matted images available.

Much of my recent photo work was shot with a medium-format (6x&) Mamiya camera. I print these large images at 14” x 18” size, and have framed/matted prints available. My recent film-based works are pictorial and landscape images of special locations here in New Mexico: Bandelier National Monument, and Las Golondrinas Museum.

Jewelry
I work in jewelry and metals, both as a blacksmith and a jeweler. I work in gold, silver, steel, stainless steel, and bronze. I cut, shape, and polish semi-precious stone to combine with sterling silver in many of my bola ties, pendants, and necklaces. I work with enamels.

Sculpture
Since the late 1970’s I’ve been a sculptor, working in metal and wood. I use welding and hot forging to shape contemporary abstract forms with steel and stainless steel. I’ve cast sculpture in bronze. I fabricate small sculptures using laminated hardwoods, often turned on a wood lathe. I studied sculpture with George Greenamyer at Massachusetts College of Art in the 1970’s. My work is in private collections in Santa Fe.

Painting
I paint small landscapes and abstractions using watercolors, employing traditional brush technique and airbrush tools. My process involves working from nature, from photos, using computer-generated masks, and tape-masking tools.

Education

  • Santa Fe Community College / 2008-2012Media Arts Program
  • University of Michigan / School of Fine ArtsMFA-Sculpture / 1982
  • Massachusetts College of ArtBFA-Sculpture / 1978
  • Brandeis University / 1972-1974Art / History / Political Science