Meet David B. Lile

Today we’d like to introduce you to David B. Lile.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
About the Artist…
In 2009, David Lile ditched his trusty Canon AE-1 film camera to embrace the burgeoning phenomenon of digital photography. A salesman at the time, he spent long days traversing hundreds of miles from Elyria and Willoughby to Rocky River and Shaker Heights, and everywhere in between. During slow stretches of downtime, David cruised the neighborhoods of downtown Cleveland, Ohio, heart thumping in his throat and spine vibrating from the soulful wailings of Hendrix, Guy and Zeppelin, turned up so loud the speakers crackled with static.

Then one day he grabbed his digital camera, opened the car door and stepped onto the hot concrete. He felt the city’s song pulsing beneath his feet, a deep channel of heat and history. He looked out over the classic buildings and saw an unbreakable spirit, forged in steel and rubber and rock n’ roll. What came next was a technicolor explosion of electric neon intensity. That was the beginning. Since then, David has gone on to create a prolific and stunning body of work that serves as a colorful love letter to urban environments.

In a relatively short amount of time, he has amassed a catalog of more than two thousand images from across the United States, Europe and Iceland. And he’s gaining speed. In fact, David himself is all about fast-moving, heart-pounding momentum. He’s a tall, wiry bundle of frenetic energy, light and loud color. An avid cyclist, he whips through the hills of Northeast Ohio, the scenery passing by in a blur. He talks fast and walks even faster.

David can easily fill a room with his booming voice and passion for discovering new connections. A natural networker, he thrives on building lasting relationships with his clients and delights in finding new ways to “wow” them with his work.

These days you might find David brainstorming with an interior designer about his next installation project, leading a presentation at the Camera Club or perched in his office chair in the middle of the night, lit by the glow of his monitor. But, there’s one thing you can always count on… he’s creating something new. And you’ll definitely want to see it.

Please tell us about your art.
I am engaged in the creation and sales of multilayered, unique, artistic Architectural/Environmental Photography
by revealing the story that each environmental space has to share. Being brought to each story, I seek to reveal its’ personality and soul through the enhanced application of vibrant, resonating colors, textures and layers. My work has been described as “Creating visions of life, among the otherwise inanimate.”

I capture unique elemental imagery, structures, architecture and landscapes and breathe life into each image.
On a technical level, I then post produce each image through Adobe Photoshop. Along with the power of Photoshop, I also use about 100 plugins and about 200 filters, to enhance each image, to bring it to fruition, for the viewer.

A portion of my work involves architecture and buildings and shortly thereafter, those same buildings and structures that I have captured earlier, are often demolished, to make way for new buildings, since this has occurred so often, I created a phrase…”Artistic Archival Documentation,” meaning that I have documented that building, at that moment in time and often created an artistic image, from its capture point.

Much of my work is placed in corporate headquarters and large structures and the larger that it is created, the more visually powerful it becomes. Price, Waterhouse and Cooper, on Public Square, in Cleveland, Ohio, purchased over 60 of my images for their two floors, in the Huntington Building. My work was used in a massive montage of Playhouse Square (The Cleveland Theater District) for their Conference Room. My photographs of commissioned Cleveland Landmark ceilings were made into wallpaper, that became the ceilings for their break rooms, along with about 20 large format images of Cleveland and the surrounding suburbs.

My work has been used in publications, such as Ohio University Press, where it was featured for their Fall catalog,
A dance was created by the inspiration of my “Determination” image, with Kent State University Dance/Arts Department, with Erin LaSala – Dance professor and dance creator. Sixty of my images were featured, with the help of Suzie Graham, of Downtown Akron Partnership and were shown on Main Street, for two years. Link… http://www.akron.com/akron-ohio-community-news.asp?aID=21772

My desire, within the scope of my unique, artistic photography, is that each viewer who has a visual interaction with my images, will take a moment to look even deeper and embrace their moment with my representation of that particular environmental space.

The ultimate goal of my life and photographic work is to be a catalyst in generating community, empowering each viewer to always be even more cognizant and always be aware of every environmental space in which they encounter.

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
In a positive sense, the internet, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites have definitely allowed artists to stretch and grow and allow their work to be seen. I have Instagram followers from literally, all over the world. If I post something at 11:00 pm, within minutes, someone from Australia will be liking my Instagram post and often commenting on it. I see the power of the internet as a positive factor, within the lives of artists.

Artists still deal with moments of elation, when a piece is sold or they are chosen for an exhibit and occasional times of doubt, especially when an artist has started their journey and no one understands their work. In general, artists should be wary of the standard line…”Give us your artwork!…Think of all of the exposure that you’ll receive!” Artists need to positively regain and restore both their confidence and self-esteem, in giving an intelligent and well thought out answer to this tempting line! Overall though, I feel that conditions are optimal for exposure and that every day is a day in which one simply continues to press forward with their work.

Yes, I but I also think that being an artist has ALWAYS been a hard road to travel, no matter the year or century! Even Michelangelo had to have a patron, working with his income, which he found in the Medici family.
I feel that any artist, involved in any genre of artistic work, must eventually see themselves as a potential business person and be confident that they have the capability of creating a viable monetary stream, directly from their work.

I believe that a city would do well to encourage their artists, through seminars and workshops, Artists should not, in any way, be afraid to make a profit from their work. This encourages the artist and allows them to create more pieces/products. Many cities do help artists when they fund public exhibits, “Art in the Park,” galleries and local shows in different areas of the city.

Cities may also center in on helping to enhance and grow the artist’s self-esteem and self-sustaining nature.
Artistic endeavor is often the glue that silently helps hold cities and society together! Art can generate community and break through cross cultural, ethnic and international barriers. The more a city helps their artists, the stronger it becomes! It becomes an ever-widening circle of growth, especially for our major cities, such as Atlanta.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I have had my work exhibited at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a full exhibit at Port Columbus International Airport, along with a full roster of additional exhibits and gallery affiliations, over the last 9 years.

Presently, I have, primarily been working directly with interior designers, architects and builders, partnering with them in providing them with key, elemental large format photographic pieces.

My work is purchased on a residential/personal basis, but as shared above, presently, I work quite frequently with business-oriented clients. My website: davidblile.com is a touch point for any person to be able to contact me, regarding purchase of my images, on a number of surfaces, as mounted prints only or mounted and framed prints, from canvas to mounted photo paper.

As a business person and artist, I am honored to actively encourage people, on any level of need, from residential to corporate, to contact me through my website, for purchase considerations.

Contact Info:

• Address: 1633 10th Street
  Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
• Website: www.davidblile.com
• Phone: Cell: 330-715-3485
• Email: david@davidblile.com
• Instagram: #davidbryanlile
• Facebook: David B Lile

Image Credit:
David B Lile

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.