Artist Bio
Trained as a nuclear engineer, Daniel’s career has had many twists and turns, from working at a nuclear power plant to technical
and management consulting. Throughout, he has continually had creative projects on the side and his technical background is often
evident in his paintings. Today, Daniel is a professional artist residing in Chicago. Through many years of painting and
experimenting with new styles, he strives to create a look and feel that is uniquely his own. His recent work using resin is receiving a
lot of his attention and is a direction he intends to explore further due to the potential and challenges of the medium. Daniel
frequently shows his work at galleries around Chicago.
Trained as a nuclear engineer, Daniel’s career has had many twists and turns, from working at a nuclear power plant to technical
and management consulting. Throughout, he has continually had creative projects on the side and his technical background is often
evident in his paintings. Today, Daniel is a professional artist residing in Chicago. Through many years of painting and
experimenting with new styles, he strives to create a look and feel that is uniquely his own. His recent work using resin is receiving a
lot of his attention and is a direction he intends to explore further due to the potential and challenges of the medium. Daniel
frequently shows his work at galleries around Chicago.
| All rights reserved. |
Nolan Studios
Featuring the work of Daniel Nolan
Featuring the work of Daniel Nolan
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| New Series: Personal Space (click to enlarge images) |
Personal Space
This bold collection of works from prolific artist
Daniel Nolan is divided into two distinct series;
figurative portraits and abstract expressionism.
Both pull from his personal experience and life
situations reflecting his feelings, visions,
passions and struggles from September 2009
through January 2010.
Each daring portrait and abstract piece is
pseudo-autobiographical. The final image is a
culmination of modern elements brought forth
by a creative method called the “pour
technique” wherein faces and images unfold
over time as the resin is poured on to the
canvas. By doing this, Daniel is enabling the
layers, colors, and organic flow of the resin to
tell the story. The previous layer “dictates” to
him what the next layer will be. It is both a
natural and surprisingly vivid progression
based on experiences with others and self.
This innovative technique also allows Daniel to
detach from the conscious and simply create,
allowing color and texture to transfer emotion
and energy to the piece and ultimately the
viewer. The color selection, placement, and
intensity of texture on the abstracts is
determined the instant the resin is applied.
There is no advanced planning with exception
to the overall geometric approach.
Despite the uniquely effective outcome, there is
one challenge in working with resin. Time.
Each layer must be worked quickly before
curing begins. Once it does, the resin cannot
be easily manipulated. In addition, each layer
must cure for 24 hours prior to applying the next
layer. This labored technique requires the daily
summoning of emotions that were felt at the
artwork's initial inception. The same passions
and emotions are lived and relived for several
weeks until the painting is complete thus
ensuring continuity with every piece. As a
result, this "Personal Space" exhibition
challenged Daniel's level of self awareness,
self knowledge, and the ability to emotionally
communicate consistently over time. It is a
psychological catharsis; one that effectively
conveys the deeply personal journey on each
piece and provides a peek into the artist’s inner
life.
Daniel's own words describe it best; “I find
myself in the ‘flow’ when I create the resin
pieces. It is a trance like state where my
inhibitions are released and my true self
emerges. I no longer feel separate from the
painting but part of the painting, or rather, the
painting is an extension of me at that specific
moment in time. This allows me to re-
experience current and past emotions
honestly.”
This bold collection of works from prolific artist
Daniel Nolan is divided into two distinct series;
figurative portraits and abstract expressionism.
Both pull from his personal experience and life
situations reflecting his feelings, visions,
passions and struggles from September 2009
through January 2010.
Each daring portrait and abstract piece is
pseudo-autobiographical. The final image is a
culmination of modern elements brought forth
by a creative method called the “pour
technique” wherein faces and images unfold
over time as the resin is poured on to the
canvas. By doing this, Daniel is enabling the
layers, colors, and organic flow of the resin to
tell the story. The previous layer “dictates” to
him what the next layer will be. It is both a
natural and surprisingly vivid progression
based on experiences with others and self.
This innovative technique also allows Daniel to
detach from the conscious and simply create,
allowing color and texture to transfer emotion
and energy to the piece and ultimately the
viewer. The color selection, placement, and
intensity of texture on the abstracts is
determined the instant the resin is applied.
There is no advanced planning with exception
to the overall geometric approach.
Despite the uniquely effective outcome, there is
one challenge in working with resin. Time.
Each layer must be worked quickly before
curing begins. Once it does, the resin cannot
be easily manipulated. In addition, each layer
must cure for 24 hours prior to applying the next
layer. This labored technique requires the daily
summoning of emotions that were felt at the
artwork's initial inception. The same passions
and emotions are lived and relived for several
weeks until the painting is complete thus
ensuring continuity with every piece. As a
result, this "Personal Space" exhibition
challenged Daniel's level of self awareness,
self knowledge, and the ability to emotionally
communicate consistently over time. It is a
psychological catharsis; one that effectively
conveys the deeply personal journey on each
piece and provides a peek into the artist’s inner
life.
Daniel's own words describe it best; “I find
myself in the ‘flow’ when I create the resin
pieces. It is a trance like state where my
inhibitions are released and my true self
emerges. I no longer feel separate from the
painting but part of the painting, or rather, the
painting is an extension of me at that specific
moment in time. This allows me to re-
experience current and past emotions
honestly.”