I am originally from Lincoln-NE and have lived in Mullen-NE, Stapleton-NE, North Platte-NE, Loup City-NE, Callaway-NE, Kearney-NE, Columbus-NE, Decatur-IL, Cedar Rapids-IA, Razgrad-Bulgaria and currently residing back in Lincoln-NE.
I began my oil painting journey after taking a painting class, in October 2017, with the great artist Todd Williams. After the class my aunt challenged me to paint one painting each week for a month. This challenge, and a similar one from my mother-in-law, helped me break any inertia keeping me from using my skills continuously. Since that time, I have created over 100 oil paintings.
I have found one of the best ways for me to unwind after a long and stressful day at work is with a paint brush or palette knife in my hand, creating. My preference is painting in oils, trying to capture as much realism as possible. I use a three step process of blocking in color, modelling with value, and detailing in the lightest lights & the darkest darks.
Now that we are back in the United States, after living in Bulgaria for nearly three years, I am looking for opportunities to expand my paintings, subjects and enthusiasm. I feel my next challenge may be experiencing Plein Air painting and working on painting more loosely.
I couldn’t have continued on this journey without the support from family, friends, and my extremely encouraging wife. I am open to seeing where God leads me next.
Daniel Smith joined Fine Art America on January 23rd, 2017.
