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October Issue 2005
Elder Gallery in Charlotte, NC, Features Works by Daniel Bayless
Elder Gallery in Charlotte, NC, will present a solo exhibition of new paintings by California artist Daniel Bayless. The exhibition opens on Oct. 7 - and continues through Oct. 31, 2005.
From his studio in San Francisco Bayless captures the drama of light, those fleeting moments when the delicate hand of nature caresses a flower garden, or gently twirls a body of water, creating a sparkling sea. His paintings of the Napa Valley and Sonoma vineyards transform the rows of grape vines into extraordinary displays of artistic sculptures encircled by hills and bountiful clouds. His interior paintings of cathedrals create a feeling of reverence, hope and joy. All of his work incorporates shafts of light to rearrange the ambiance, inspiring a mood for the moment.
In the tradition of the great impressionists of the 19th century, Bayless records the most subtle sensations of light, those ephemeral particles that engage the senses, calling to mind early mornings when patios are perfumed by delicate blooms, awake and dancing in the sun. His harbor scenes capture those quiet moments when the bay, capable of rage and mystery, is still and at peace.
Bayless observes the natural elements of a scene. Using powerful brushwork and luminosity, he arranges them within the frame of his canvas in such a manner that the viewer experiences the focused energy and spontaneity apparent in each scene. "I want to evoke the feeling of what a scene means to me when I look at it," Bayless says. "The vitality of color, the energy of the relationship of the viewer and the subject, whether itís a vibrating, sunny landscape or a still controlled interior; those are the messages that are important to me."
Bayless was born in Borger, TX, a town at the top of that state, where towering clouds, not skyscrapers, dominate the horizon and color the landscape. At a young age, he began to observe the fluid nature of these colors, always changing in the sunlight. As a result, his parents promptly enrolled him in children's oil painting class at the age of five. Bayless won National Merit Scholarship awards each year during his four year high school career. In 1974, the young artist studied with Russian painter, Sergei Bongart. Impressed with his student's talents, Bongart offered Bayless a scholarship.
Painting is not the only passion in Bayless'
life. He is an accomplished jewelry designer. After attending
the University of Arizona, Bayless left for New York, where he
completed his degree at the Abbey School for Jewelry and Art Metal
Design. He was apprenticed to Maurice Galli, head designer of
the prestigious Fifth Avenue firm of Harry Winston. He continued
to paint as well.
Bayless met and worked with abstract expressionist Fred Mitchell
whose influence of abstraction, combined with the powerful colorist
influence of Bongart's impressionism, provided the foundation
upon which Bayless paints. Attention to detail and design, essential
in crafting fine jewelry, also influences his oils.
Bayless' paintings are included in both private and corporate collections in California, New York, Mexico, England, Hong Kong and Japan. His collectors include such luminaries as Elizabeth Taylor and the late Leonard Bernstein. His corporate collectors include: The Disney Corporation, Omni Hotels, The Breakers and MCrowd Dallas.
For further information check our NC Commercial Gallery listings, call the gallery at 704/370-6337 or at (www.elderart.com).
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