David Daniels: On Painting with Watercolors

The HEART of the ARTIST and the SPIRIT of the MEDIUM are the two most important components of my work. The large format of my work, allows the viewer to closely examine the true beauty of nature. The shimmering light of a grasshopper’s wing is seldom thought of as a worthy subject for a watercolor painting. However, my former training in botany and biology have often led me to investigate the subtle and often overlooked beauties of nature. My paintings reveal the natural world through light and color, and soar with the delight I find in the wonder of nature.

The transparent medium of watercolor is the perfect vehicle for me to express the aesthetic beauty I wish to convey. My paintings are composed of many transparent layers of paint applied atop one another. These transparent layers allow for a visual mixing of pigment that is vibrant and rich with brilliant color.

The ability to render objects realistically is a wonderful skill that may take years to perfect, but I don’t confuse it with being creative. Creativity is that special drive that allows me to take images and translate them into my own unique vision. I feel it is my responsibility not to paint what I see but rather to paint what I want others to see. I feel the creative integrity of my work is measured by how I have interpreted the world, not mirrored it.