Publication Date: December 27, 2024
An Artist’s Life tells of artist, author, and architect Carlton Davis’s relentless search for his soul’s desire. With degrees in architecture, he works with luminary architects, but his métier is making art. He relates to the art stars while berating himself for lacking their talent and discipline. Yet his antennae are always alert. Despite terrifying mood swings, he is a keen observer of human nature which he documents with drawings and words.
Life’s travails bedevil Carlton. He attempts suicide, has a failed marriage, becomes addicted to crack cocaine, and discovers he contains a female self he calls Carlotta “because she’s a whole lotta Carl.” He struggles to sit in silent meditation, but ends up at a mental hospital, where a gifted psychiatrist proves to him that he is suffering from Bipolar I disorder and helps him initiate sobriety and recovery.
Self-portraits grace every chapter of An Artist’s Life , covering 50 years. At first glance, there appear to be a dozen sitters rather than one, but this shows the essence of Carl’s harrowing unrest. An Artist’s Life pleases the eye and ear, whether perused at random or read cover to cover. The book reflects a joyous collaboration between Davis and co-author Peter Lownds, who bring this moving story that combines art history, reminiscence, and the pleasure of success.
Born with a creative flair, then developing technical skill as an architect poses a lifelong conundrum for author Carlton Davis. He chronicles his professional life, but more vividly his personal life, rife with all sorts of demons in An Artist’s Life.
Readers, viewers, and art lovers must note that Davis writes and draws with a raw commitment to his thoughts and feelings. This sometimes presents material that is shocking. Each chapter details a year. He created a self-portrait each year, and now he is reflecting on the detritus of how the events of the physical world and the thoughts within his mind have left visible nuances upon his countenance.
The format of this book is a collection of Davis’ art, including self-portraits, his own memoir, insertions of world events, and comparative art from his art heroes. When skimming through the text, you may mistakenly think it is a textbook. Having studied some art throughout my life, I read this as an average retiree ready for a creative pastime. But it could be devoured by an actual art student. It could be an excellent resource for a social historian. It could even be a lifeline for someone living with bipolar disease or another near the end of his rope addicted to cocaine.
I formed the opinion early in my reading that Davis would not be someone I could spend a lot of time with. Admittedly, he is egotistical, and his battles with both mental illness and drug addiction would have made being a friend, relative, or colleague of his difficult, if not impossible. Yet, by the epilogue, I felt relieved that he had found satisfaction and recognition for the art he produced as he held onto his very existence for 80 years.
An Artist’s Life is the very uniquely written memoir by Carlton Davis. His honesty may be disturbing at times, but using art and description will reveal a man full of artistic creativity fighting his way through mental illness and addiction to achieve the title of “artist.”
Carlton Davis is an artist and writer with over fifty years of experience in drawing, sculpture, and memoir. He is the author of Bipolar Bare and The Art Dockuments, with a new book, Face to Face with Myself, coming in 2025. His work has been exhibited in Los Angeles and internationally, and his writing has appeared in art, culture, and health publications. Based in Pasadena and Carlisle, he continues to explore identity, resilience, and creativity through his art.
