Artists become
known for signature works and increasingly Dan Smith’s “water” paintings
are becoming “must haves” for collectors. As is the case for Stillwater
Crossing, evidently “must haves” for museum collections as well. Dan
created this painting specifically for the Eiteljorg Museum’s Quest for
the West Art Show last September. In a strong overall showing of art,
Smith’s painting won the show’s Harrison Eiteljorg Purchase Award and is
now part of the museum’s permanent collection.
It is easy to see why museums and
collectors think Smith is doing something special. Water and its
qualities are one of the toughest real world experiences to translate
convincingly into painting. From the reflective qualities of the placid
surface to the bison’s turbulent wake, what you see here is flawless. A
true signature work from a highly respected American artist.
Out of the
Dust, Daniel Smith newest fine art edition, is a gem of North America’s
giant icons. You can almost smell the animal and feel the dry heat in
this image. “My paintings are a reflection of many years of field work
combined with a passion for the natural world,” says the artist. “My
objective is to share my passion through a scientifically accurate
realistic painting while maintaining artistic integrity.” You can get a
piece of this fast-rising wildlife star, signed and numbered and at an
affordable price, from Picture This framing & gallery .
Fine Art Smallwork
Giclee Canvas Handsigned by the Artist
"Bears have an uncanny sense of smell".
Being omnivorous they get most of their nutrients from nuts, berries and
fish (which are not very filling) so they spend most of their lives
searching for food. This grisly bear has been fortunate enough to find a
cache of honey within reach." Says Daniel Smith.
In prehistoric times bears were revered as gods. To
this day, the power and magnificence of the bear
stirs our imagination and emotions. Cool Runnings
is a captivating portrait of an animal who has
inspired both fear and fascination in mankind for
millennia. Smith’s realistic style brings every drop
of water and each wet hair on the grizzly’s face
into sharp focus, making it clear that the artist
has spent years studying these remarkable creatures.
The hush of an autumn morning is barely broken
by the quiet rushing of water and the splashing steps of a bull and cow
moose. “What drew me to this scene,” says Daniel Smith, “is its abstract
quality, the division between the dark, still water of the background and
the reflective bright water of the small cascade in the foreground. I always
liked the peace and tranquility of running water, like watching a fire at
night—it’s got that same mesmerizing quality.”
The mountain lion
was nearly annihilated at the beginning of the 20th century by ranchers and
hunters. Since the 1960s, however, the mountain lion population has
rebounded thanks to new protective laws.
The mountain lion in
Smith's painting, is in his glory in the wild. Smith's detailed style
captures the curl of the cougar's tail and the tension in his muscles so
realistically that you may feel the need to slowly back away from this cat
On the Edge.
As the harsh
morning sun heats the earth, the only cool surface available to this
magnificent grizzly bear is a rushing stream. The wet fur on his belly and
legs attest to the bear's love of the water as he plunges in with his
massive front paws. The water itself looks so inviting and the sun, so
harsh, that you may have to stop yourself from attempting to share this
grizzly's
Retreat from the Heat.
In the lion, one
may find strength, grace, intelligence, beauty, nobility and utter and
exquisite laziness. The lion is so convincing in his
perfection that he has managed to become crowned "King of the Jungle."
-Daniel Smith
In his latest fine
art limited edition, Double Trouble, wildlife artist Daniel Smith
departs from
his signature images of the wild in the wilderness. “I generally don’t paint
adults and young together,” says Smith, who used a studio full of pine cones
and other reference materials while composing this close-up view of a mother
grizzly and her two cubs.“The grizzly is one of the species who remain with
their offspring, in most instances for three years. Nature dictates when the
young can fend for themselves.”
"The closer you are
to its environment, the better you will be able to portray the subject,”
says wildlife artist Dan Smith. And he should know. Smith goes on location,
gets close to the subjects he paints and studies them where they live. Icon
of the West is a rugged portrait of the defining symbol of the West, the
American Bison. His wooly, stoic face is the embodiment of the often rough
and harsh life out on the open plains. Smith has superbly captured the
demeanor of this burly giant in a timeless portrait of formidable strength.
The spirit that
makes a creature truly wild soars in Sovereign Repose. For Daniel Smith to
portray such an intimate understanding of this raptor's nature attests to
the time he spends in its natural habitat. The bald eagle (haliaeetus
leucocephalus), is found over most of North America, from Alaska and Canada
to northern Mexico. In 1782 the Continental Congress officially adopted the
current design for the Great Seal of the United States, emboldened with a
bald eagle grasping arrows and an olive branch with its talons. While on the
brink of extinction late in the 20th century, today the population of the
great bird has stabilized, ensuring that this living embodiment of freedom
continues its reign.
