Meet David Montgomery | Artist & writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with David Montgomery and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi David, what do you attribute your success to?
The key is absolutely loving what I do. I started painting during the early pandemic because I had nothing but time and anxiety and desperately needed something to do with my hands. My neighbor was throwing out her old paints and offered them to me. I started painting what I’d see on my daily walks when they closed the trails, anything that made me smile for even a second. So then I’d like in that joy for hours painting it and then have that joy on my wall forever. And when I go past it again, it becomes more special to me. I started painting all these businesses that I missed that I wanted to be open again. The Vista, the Los Feliz 3, Griffith Observatory. All of this was born out of love for my neighborhood.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My path is a little atypical, having not ever gone to school for it or taking any lessons or even tutorials. I picked up painting as a hobby to get my mind off of the world in 2020. It was simply to make myself feel better. When someone offered me money for two paintings, I was convinced they were just being charitable and I tried refusing, but they insisted. After I posted that these were sold, people started asking if I did commissions. Flash forward to people asking me to make prints of my work and it changed the game entirely.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The best part is that we won’t leave the 90027 zip code. I love Los Feliz so much it’s insane. Start with a sunrise hike in Griffith, and come down the hill afterward for the best vanilla latte on earth at Mustard Seed Cafe and basically anything on their breakfast menu – not possible to be disappointed. Catch a matinee at The Vista or the Los Feliz 3 and then grab some lunch at Messhall (fried chicken sando for the win!). Do a little shopping on Hillhurst and Vermont, a quick drink at Ye Rustic Inn or the Dresden, and dinner at Thai On Hillhurst. Grab a blanket and a (secret) bottle of wine and head up to Barnsdall Art Park to see the night views.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The Los Feliz 3 theater. This place makes me smile every time I walk past, day or night. I have so many memories and so much joy wrapped up in the little building that I believe there’s some actual magic sprinkled in it somewhere.

Website: https://www.mayoroflosfeliz.com

Instagram: @buymeahotdog

Image Credits
David Montgomery