The Artistic Journey of Dara Daniel
Dara Daniel's artistic journey is deeply inspired by the natural world and her love for animals, which she captures through her acrylic on canvas mixed-media paintings. Her work is characterized by bold colors, shapes, and textures that create playful interpretations of birds, horses, and other animal spirits. Dara's formal education includes a Master's in Art from Cal Poly State in Arcata, California, obtained in 1989, where she focused on abstract female forms in cement and steel. After graduation, she continued creating expressionistic figurative sculptures until 2008, using materials like cement, clay, and wood. In 2009, Dara transitioned to two-dimensional art, exploring various paint mediums and subject matters. This shift marked a new phase in her career, where she embraced painting as her primary medium, drawing inspiration from nature and animals. Dara's process involves layering handmade papers on canvases, adding textures and employing symbolic organic and geometric shapes. Her work is intuitive, expressing rhythms, energy, moods, and emotions, aiming to capture and share the joy and beauty that nature offers.
