Daniel Mundy

b. 1955

Five decades ago, Daniel picked up a brush to start his first canvas; oil painting that day on location near a gold country pond. Now largely a studio painter, his lifelong passion for painting has never wavered.

   Born in Seattle, Daniel grew up in Oregon, Washington, and Alaska. He moved with his parents to California in 1970. Daniel’s early interest in natural history led him to spend many glorious hours wandering the fields and woodlands of the outdoors near his home. His early mentor, painter Nevin Kempthorne Fleet, saw promise in her young protégé. Her encouragement and belief in his natural ability, even at the young age of fifteen, remains a major inspiration to him to this day.

  Chasing the light and soul of the landscape, Daniel carefully crafts picture designs on canvas. He is especially drawn to late evenings when the light has almost left the landscape. His work often takes on a spiritual quality that seems to transcend the need to record a particular location. Daniel starts with several reference photos and begins his work producing drawings in charcoal on paper which are largely invented depictions. “The drawings introduce my personal handwriting to the motif.” When one of these sketches exhibits some of the elements he’s looking for in the potential work he begins the painting using the drawing as his primary inspiration.  “The drawing is not meant to be a finished work on its own but merely a kind of shorthand for the painting to come.” The photo references provide additional anatomical detail.

   Daniel Mundy has been featured in Art of the West magazine. He was represented by the former Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. He has shown in several regional galleries in northern California. He’s an Associate member of the American Impressionist Society and recently won Best in Show in the Society’s first online exhibition.

Daniel’s recent move to the southwest, New Mexico, promises to provide endless inspiration for future work. He has an Associate Degree in Commercial Art and a BFA in Fine Art Studio Design. Though primarily self-taught, Daniel lists the following individuals as major influences in his art and life. Nevin Kempthorne Fleet, Nancy Templeton, Vernon Nye, and Don Hatfield. Daniel and his wife MaryAnn have a studio and home in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.