49er Vernon Davis an artist at heart

San Francisco Chronicle - When Vernon Davis does finally get to the Sistine Chapel, he'll be a little closer to the "Creation of Adam" than most visitors. At 6 feet 3 and 250 pounds, the pass-catching tight end definitely stands out in a crowd.

Tonight the San Francisco 49er with the heart of an artist hopes to pass on his message to kids, headlining the first Art Impact speaker series at the Koret Auditorium in the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum, followed by a fundraiser for the Vernon Davis Visual Arts Scholarship Fund at Morton's Steakhouse.

The Art Impact series is a joint effort from the San Francisco Arts Commission and the San Francisco Unified School District. Davis spoke with us last week from Washington, D.C., where he lives in the offseason.

Q: What artists inspire you?

A: My favorite artist is Claude Clark, an African American painter. I also like some of the Renaissance art - Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonardo. ... I'm thinking about going to the Sistine Chapel. I'll let you know all about it once I get over there. I see it in the books, but I can't wait to see it in person.

Q: You started out as a criminal justice major in college. Why did you change to art?

A: I had a dream about it one morning, and I decided to take a class.

Q: A dream?

A: I had a dream I was painting, and all I could see was different pieces of art in my dream. And I just had this vision where I could see myself painting. People would always come to me and tell me, "Vernon, you should be a painter, because you have the desire to do it." It was actually my academic counselor who inspired me to pick up classes and change my major.