Born in the mountains of Virginia, Daniel grew up drawing and doodling the world around him but it wasn’t until college that he started taking it seriously. With the guidance of his college art professor his “doodles” soon turned into a passion and his business major soon changed to fine art. With an MFA from Savannah College of Art and Design and continued fine arts studies under artists such as Everett Raymond Kinstler, Michael Shane Neal and Rob Liberace; Daniel is constantly striving to learn all he can to better his abilities. “I will always be a student, no matter my age or abilities. There will always be something for me to learn and better myself with.” Reading and researching other artists such as Sorolla, Zorn, Mary Whyte and others stimulate him. Viewing works of art here in the U.S. and abroad help to broaden his influences. Having taken a trip to Israel, two to Italy and many to various parts of the U.S., Daniel never misses a chance to expound his art through museum and individual studio visits.

Daniel’s drawings evoke a strong sense of line and provide a firm foundation on which to base his paintings. His watercolors are a vibrant splash of color with an intensity that evokes warm emotions in his viewers. “I want my art to be a reflection of life; an observation. To bring out the beauty that God has instilled in everything. From the obvious like a sunset or the twinkle in a grandmother’s eye to the more mundane, like a firewood pile or the weather beaten face of a farmer.” With his works hanging in both private and institutional settings, Daniel also has an active show record.

After years of artistic pursuits for himself, Daniel decided to teach and in doing so discovered that in helping others to better their art, he helped his own. “I always try and think of myself as a student first and a teacher second. I think this helps me interact and connect with my students at a level that will benefit us both. I have many times in trying to help a student through an area, discovered that I was bettering myself too.” Teaching at all levels whether in drawing or painting allows Daniel to pass on his passion for art and provides him with a platform with which to instill his belief that art is a necessary part of life. He believes that while we don’t need art to survive we do need it to truly live. “Beauty and art are such an intrinsic part of our lives but most of the time we don’t slow down enough to observe them. To live our lives as they were intended, we should always be creative no matter what we do, there is art in everything. Doesn’t matter if we are a mechanical engineer or a concert pianist, beauty is around us and it is up to us to interact with it.”