THRIVING in NATURE

Painting from life has enhanced Daniel J. Keys’ still lifes and landscapes

- Rochelle Belsito

Daniel J. Keys paints a plein air landscape. Daniel J. Keys has always been captivated by nature, and that interest has carried over into his still lifes and landscapes filled with colorful flowers reminiscent of the seasons. “Part of what I paint and when I choose to paint goes back to my childhood,” Keys says. “I’m not really interested in something that’s new all the time. I’m much more interested in exploring what I already know and what I’ve always loved.”

When he was a child Keys had an adeptness for art, and at age 11 he began painting with a paint set he bought with birthday money. During his teens, the artist discovered the paintings of Richard Schmid and began to emulate his style. Since that time Keys has studied with Schmid and built a close friendship with him. As he grew as an artist, Keys developed an artistic flair that makes each work unmistakably his own. The pieces are dynamic and encapsulate fleeting moments, which is especially prominent because of his desire to work from life.