Daniel F. Gerhartz’s new show at InSight Gallery in Fredericksburg, Texas, is both a showcase of the artist’s new work, as well as a chance to imbue the world with a bit more beauty. Often, the figurative artist paints the female form in ways that are delicate, sophisticated and reverent. “Being a father, I’ve got three daughters. I want to paint people in a way that I’d want them to look at my kids. With respect, something to cherish…I’m trying to send a positive message...I want my work to bless people and give them hope,” he says.
A Tribute to Richard, oil, 30 x 18"
Flowers, inherently beautiful, show up in several paintings in the show, including A Tribute to Richard, Auburn and Scarlet, Rose Lyric and Tea and Begonia. “Maybe the theme is petals,” says Gerhartz, laughing. “Flowers are beautiful and an absolutely stunning creation. I love to garden, and it’s part of what I find fascinating in the world. [Flowers] are like painting portraits. They’re just so unique. So when they’re in a composition with a figure, they just add more beauty. I’m attracted to them. They’re elegant, gorgeous creations.”
In Quiet Waters, purple flowers are sprinkled along the edges of a gentle stream.
Quiet Waters, oil, 36 x 48"
Rose Lyric, oil, 31 x 36"
A shepherd in the foreground tends to her sheep, which graze on green pastures in the mid- and backgrounds. The piece, says the artist, came about when he was invited by a friend to visit a sheep farm in the western hills of Wisconsin.
Auburn and Scarlet, oil, 20 x 14"
Gerhartz adds that these beautiful scenes and moments aren’t about him, and they’re not really his creations either. “[Painting] is not about me. I’m basically slathering colored mud onto a piece of cloth...I didn’t make any of that beauty. I’m simply trying to put the [beauty I’m seeing onto the canvas],” he says. “I’m organizing beauty and putting it out there, and I hope that people have a sense of peace when they look at it.”
The exhibition at InSight Gallery runs February 4 to 25 with an opening reception on Friday, February 4, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. —
Upcoming Show
February 4-25, 2022
InSight Gallery
214 W. Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX 78624
(830) 997-9920, www.insightgallery.com
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