Dan Daly, Trowels, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in., 2016.
Over the years, the subject matter for my paintings has often changed but for the most part there would be three themes—people, places, things. The “things” have been what I see as quintessential objects with a unique value on their own, as well as being interesting subjects in the tradition of still life painting. Here, the trowels are presented formally and realistically to portray the patina and wear of well used tools.
Dan Daly, Watering Can #1, oil on canvas, 12 x 16 in., 2016.
What is often dismissed as mundane and everyday is actually often beautiful in its own right when something is more closely observed. Something as simple as strong light casting a shadow reveals the object as worthy of examination.
Dan Daly, Watering Can #2, oil on canvas, 16 x 20 in., 2016.
Gardens and gardening can be so many different things to people. It can be about creating beauty and order out of chaos, growing one’s own healthy food, a purely meditative experience or even all of that! The tools involved, though not quite on the level of talisman, can be like old friends and trusted partners. This painting shows such an old partner surrounded by the greens of summer.