Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel McClendon.
Daniel, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I’ve been creating my entire life. Despite not coming from a family of artists, I was always encouraged to pursue my passion for art. I received my BFA from Western Michigan University (exclusively focused on representational painting) and shortly after moved to Asheville, NC with a mind to make a go of it professionally. I essentially failed within two years of pursuing that goal. My failures were most apparent to me in my lack of authentic voice. I could paint a landscape and sell it, but that was not my idea of creative success. I didn’t even like painting landscapes. So, I quit painting in late 2010.
Fortunately, I failed at quitting too. In the middle of the night on March 21, 2011 (eight years ago today, coincidentally!) I had what I can best describe as an epiphany. At 3:59 AM I jotted down what I hoped was a deliberate and succinct approach to (re)finding my voice. My creative approach and philosophies were in stark contrast to what I always thought I believed was the best way to approach my art; I felt I needed to get out of my own way and allow the process to determine my voice rather than declaring my identity and then fabricating it. I set to work creating with very limited expectations. But it was all very surprising; I never enjoyed even looking at abstract art yet my new approach is similar to abstract expressionism. I began creating at a furious pace. I decided to try and be a professional again (it didn’t hurt that I have no other professional experience to fall back on) and ended up investing heavily in a studio/gallery space and primarily self-representing. Eight years on, I have a career and a strong sense of pride in my work. I’m honestly still shocked.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
My goal with my art is to explore instinctively and honestly and hope that I can engage an audience in a primitive way. I begin each painting with a dynamic non-objective (read random) black and white foundation painting. This reflects the concept that we arrive in this world with at least millions of years of momentum prior to us but we have the opportunity to exist in it for our time. We can have a voice despite often feeling inconsequential. I try to embrace this whole-heartedly. I take these black and white “environments” and respond to them in a way that feels propelled by impulses/instincts. I react and use a variety of animal forms to visually anchor a composition. So, initially, there is no animal or composition in mind. Objectively, the animals provide me a rich and diverse visual resource but much more importantly they are a totem of instinct– or freedom from expectations. These animals don’t obsess over the future. They don’t worry about perceptions. They simply “are” and there’s power to that. I feel that referencing these animals in this symbolic way, I can consistently rediscover my voice by not worrying about my voice.
So, with that, I don’t have an ultimate goal or agenda as far as how I want my audience to respond to my work. If someone is enamored by Orangutans and they are moved by my art because they see one depicted in my painting; great. If someone is struck by the energy of a painting and can’t help but want to delve deeper because of that; that’s equally great. Again, I just want to engage my audience whoever they might be.
Artists rarely, if ever pursue art for the money. Nonetheless, we all have bills and responsibilities and many aspiring artists are discouraged from pursuing art due to financial reasons. Any advice or thoughts you’d like to share with prospective artists?
Don’t be ashamed to have a side hustle (pretty much every professional artist does in the beginning). You don’t have to be a full-time professional to be a “serious” artist (though it certainly streamlines things). Just don’t sell yourself short by not considering yourself a real artist just because you aren’t making a living off it. And be willing to sacrifice in order to devote energy to your art and save as much money as you can. Then you can invest in developing your career when the time is right. There’s no one way to be a professional creative (easy example: show with galleries vs. self-representing) but putting in the effort to find your voice and hone your craft, in the beginning, are pretty much required.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I primarily show out of my open studio and gallery ‘The Lift Studios’ in Asheville, NC. I renovated an amazing 112-year old National Biscuit Company warehouse and used it as my main venue to share my work. I also periodically do gallery shows or exhibit in a variety of other venues (independent art centers, museums, etc.). All my work can be seen on my website: www.danielmcclendon.com where I have both a comprehensive portfolio of sold and available works. You can naturally support my work by purchasing (see website for available works) or by sharing with friends or strangers.
Contact Info:
- Address: The Lift Studios
349 Depot St
Asheville, NC 28801 - Phone: 269-2674113
- Email: daniel@danielmcclendon.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/daniel_mcclendon/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/danielmcclendon.art
- Other: www.danielmcclendon.com
Image Credit:
Sandman Gaither, Daniel McClendon
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