Daniel Santos is an American natural impressionism painter, but started his art career as a sculptor. He was selected to sculpt the Life Time Achievement Award given to Raquel Welch, Kenny Loggins, The San Diego School of Theater and Erick Roberts given by TVIFF. After several years of exploration in art, Daniel decided to focus all his attention to painting. These days, Daniel can be found painting en Plein air or doing portraits, wildlife, still-life and landscapes. His natural colors and style of painting he describes as natural impressionism.
Daniel earned a BFA degree from the University of Cal State Fullerton and studied under modern master artists Michael Situ and John Cosby. In Paris, he acquired an interest for Plein Air after seeing the works of master artist Joaquin Sorolla, thus led him to seek the guidance of accomplished artist John Cosby. Daniel's amazing talent to captured realistic loose painterly style scenes in oil goes beyond that a mere representation and his desired as an artist is to tell a story through his work. And for the viewer to feel the subtleties of his palette, the mist in the air, aesthetic inquiry, inspire reaction and treatment of loose detail.
Many artist only focus on a certain genre, but Daniel focuses on light rather than a subject matter, thus his able to depict a vast variety of subject matters. His love for the Renaissance art has led him to visit museums around the world, so he can better understand his passion for painting. His still life paintings are reminance of the old masters, thus his chiaroscuro effect on his still life art derived directly from studying the old masters. Daniel's work is influenced by Joaquin Sorrolla, Rembrandt, Camille Pissarro, Leonardo Da Vinci, Pieter Claesz, Jean Chardin and contemporary masters like David Leffell, Jeff Legg, John Cosby, Matt Smith and Clyde Aspevig.
Daniel's natural contemporary style has captured the interest of some very important collectors. His work can be found in many private, public and corporate collections around the world. Daniel is currently living and maintains a studio in San Diego CA. He has been featured in many publications and has been in the cover of the Temecula Magazine. In addition, he has had many galleries shows including a one man show at the Temecula Museum, Red Door Gallery, and the Merc Gallery. Daniel has also been member of the prestigious Oil Painters of America, American Impressionist Society, The California Art Club and the Laguna Plein Air Association. The
