ABOUT THE ART AND ARTIST
ARTIST STATEMENT
Since 2018 I have been creating photo-based digital art. I extensively manipulate digital photographs that I have taken of trees, other plants, and leaves; to create artworks that are abstracted to varying degrees. I create art that is reflective of mental processes. Each artwork is assigned to one of three concurrent series: UNFORMED THOUGHTS, SUBLIMINAL PROCESSING, and OUTER TERRITORIES.
UNFORMED THOUGHTS
Our conscious thoughts do not instantly arrive fully formed. There is a time period, however brief, during which thoughts take shape. At midway points through this process, there is just an amorphous pre-thought - it is unformed. The UNFORMED THOUGHTS artworks are in two groups - Numbered and Named. The Numbered are reflective of forming thoughts that still have a wide range of potential destinations. The Named are reflective of thoughts that seem, for me, to be further along towards forming. The title for each of these Named artworks is a single descriptive word that signifies the feeling, emotion, or sense that I think it has begun to acquire. Both Numbered and Named reflect a broad range of feelings, senses, and emotions - from gentle to harsh, from caring to antagonistic.
OUTER TERRITORIES
OUTER TERRITORIES are ‘places’ that I can’t physically, or logically go to. It’s my mind that transports me to them. Some are joyful, some are terrifying, some various points in between. But always they are interesting.
Beyond the Concepts
Throughout I strive to create art that has strong emotional and intellectual impact. I value this most of all - art that ‘stands on its own’ very well, accompanied, or unaccompanied, by concept. To quote, and echo, the sentiment of renowned artist Cecily Brown “I have always wanted to make paintings that grab and hold your attention”.
Since February 8, 2020, when I had a fairly severe Grand Mal Seizure, my mind, and much of my art, has been somewhat more chaotic and disoriented.
My Art Creation Process
Starting with digital photographs I have taken of trees, other plants, and leaves; I create abstracted digital art. Each of the artworks is derived from a single photo, even though some appear to be composites. The art is created via extensive image editing using Photoshop. Through the process of creating these artworks I let the image lead me, to some extent; but have my instincts pilot as well. So I proceed down various paths, sometimes returning back, to head a different direction. I continue towards what I feel is the strongest work of art I can create from the starting photo. This approach yields artworks that vary stylistically more than many other artists, but I enjoy the variety.
Prints
Archival Limited Edition Canvas Prints, with Certificate of Authenticity.
BIO
Dan McGarrah had a career in advertising photography. Since 2018 he has devoted his passion and time to creating photo-based abstract artwork. A medical event in February of 2020 has increased his affinity for the abstract. McGarrah had a severe Grand Mal Seizure that lasted 10 minutes or more till the paramedics arrived. Often that is fatal, but luckily not for McGarrah, after 6 hours in ER. But there have been permanent effects - most significantly he has lost massive amounts of long term memory. Virtually zero memory of activities or events going back 40 years or so. McGarrah recognizes his wife and sons and friends in photos, but has no memory of things he did with them, or activities they did. Although he has been married 25 years, and sons are 22 and 26; he really only knows then the past couple years. And his perception of the world has a bit of an abstract feel.
CV
Dan McGarrah
SOLO & TWO-PERSON EXHIBITS
2021 - 2022
International Art Museum of America
San Francisco Solo Show Nov 2021 - Jan 2022
2019
Healdsburg Center For The Arts
Healdsburg, CA 2 Person Show
UCSF Women’s Health Center
San Francisco Solo Show - 6th Floor
ART FAIRS
2022
Superfine Art Fair San Francisco
Solo Booth
GROUP EXHIBITS
2024
Drawing Room Annex Gallery
San Francisco Jan - Feb
:iidrr Gallery
San Francisco Dec - Jan
BlueStream Gallery
San Francisco Dec - Jan
2023
Carter Burden Gallery
NYC
May - June
Studio 23 Gallery 10th Anniversary Exhibit
Alameda, CA May 10 - June 15
The Drawing Room Annex
San Francisco ‘Sky’
Feb 18 - April 1
Sebastopol Center For The Arts ‘Favorite Things’
Sebastopol, CA Jan 13 - Feb 6
2022
Sacramento Fine Arts Center ‘Abstract Intentions’
Carmichael, CA 3 Prints
November 1 - December 5
2018 - 2022
San Francisco Women’s Artists Gallery
My Artwork & Photography Selected
For 32 Of Their Monthly Exhibits
Each Jurored by an independent juror
Received ‘Juror’s Prize’ 4 Times