David P. Curtis

Between the Pines, oil on canvas, 12 x 16    

David P. Curtis, who was born in Brookline, Mass., was introduced to painting at an early age by his father, marine artist Roger W. Curtis, and took art classes from his uncle, Howard Curtis, while a student at Gloucester High School. He grew up surrounded by the painters — and paintings — of Cape Ann, an area noted for its artistic history. During this period, Curtis also attended weekend classes at Massachusetts College of Art and received criticism from artist Ken Gore.

After graduating from high school, Curtis spent the summer of 1968 studying at the Boston Museum School, and in the fall attended Vesper George School of Art, Boston. In January 1969, he began working under Boston painter R. H. Ives Gammell and remained with him until June 1971. Curtis returned to Gammell in the latter part of 1974 and remained in the atelier until the follow­ing year. Curtis also studied part-time with Robert Douglas Hunter.

Curtis was an artist member and a member of the Board of Managers of the Guild of Boston Artists, an artist member and past Chairman of the Arts and Exhibition Committee of the North Shore Arts Association, and an artist member and past President of Rockport Art Association & Museum.

Primarily an out-of-doors landscape painter, Curtis has won numerous awards for his work, including Yankee Magazine’s Robb Sagendorph Memorial Award (Copley Society of Boston), two A.T. Hibbard Memorial Awards for Landscape (RAA), two Frank Benson Awards (GBA), and two Marguerite Neuhauser Shafer Memorial Awards (NSAA).

His work is shown and collected internationally, and he is listed in Who’s Who in the East. His most recent achievements include the 2019 Charles Movalli Award and Gold Medal for Excellence in Painting and also The Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) for his leadership and contribution to the art world.

Curtis instructed outdoor oil painting classes and workshops on Cape Ann, and throughout New England and Virginia, for almost 30 years. The artist passed away in 2021.