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# Local painter finds her calling later in life
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/local-painter-finds-her-calling-later-in-life/
- Published: 2008-06-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:18:32.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By*

“She always looks at things as a kid in a candy store,” he said. “It’s like she’s walking in a magical tunnel.”

Although Davidson has painted all of her life, she worked as a film editor alongside her husband for 10 years before delving into painting full-time.

“When my youngest daughter was born I realized editing is not my art,” Davidson said.

She found her studio space at the Santa Monica Fine Art Studios on Franklin Street and began to paint nine hours a day. The studio space holds 35 artists, and Davidson said that it helps her to get feedback from her creative neighbors. The studio also holds an annual show for all of the artists working there each fall.

“Maybe that’s what I was supposed to do all my life, but I’m doing it now,” she said.

Davidson has already completed nearly 30 sketches for her next series, which will also feature “My Girl.”

“She will evolve and grow, and there will be more stories around her,” said Davidson.

As for the current “My Girl” series, Davidson hopes that viewers will be able to be transported, if only for a moment, into her beloved character’s lively, colorful world.

“I want people to feel good when they see my paintings. I really want them to smile.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 28, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062808.pdf?ref=smdp.com)