Daniel Gerhartz
Choosing Beauty
Solo Exhibition | July 5-11, 2019
Daniel Gerhartz
Choosing Beauty Solo Exhibition July 5-11, 2019
on the cover: (detail) Wrapped In Light oil 60”x30” previous page: (detail) At Long Last oil 16”x20”
Meyer Gallery
225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 505.983.1434 www.meyergalleries.com
Honesty is the vein that runs through the life and art of Dan Gerhartz. This integrity, combined with his driving work ethic and impeccable technique, have brought him a degree of success that artists twice his age would envy. Born in 1965, Gerhartz grew up in rural Wisconsin, an area he continues to call home. The unspoiled beauty of the nearby Kettle Moraine State Forest was his playground as a child and provides inspiration for many of his paintings today. "I've been really lucky," he says. "I can paint what I want to paint. The area around here is so beautiful, with its rolling hills, deciduous forests, and prairies. I love to place a figure against that landscape." Gerhartz credits an inspirational high school art instructor, John Baitinger, for helping shape his artistic direction. "He guided me through my formative years when I didn't know where I wanted to go with my art. But I already knew it was going to be a very important part of my life." He continued his studies at the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he was awarded the Faculty Recommendation Scholarship and the President's Award in 1985. Later, artist Richard Schmidt was important in Gerhartz' career through sharing his knowledge and skill. Despite his remarkable early success, Dan Gerhartz is determined to keep growing. "This is just the beginning," he says. "All I have to do is open a book with the work of the masters. Their technical ability is just so humbling. Painting is a never-ending learning process. I look forward to learning my entire life." To this end, he spends a great deal of time studying the work of artists who inspire him, including John Singer Sargent, Alphonse Mucha, and the French and American Impressionists. Particularly important have been Russian artists, especially Nicolai Fechin. "The Russians are so loose, but so honest," he explains. Dan is quick to credit his wife Jennifer, whom he married in 1988, for her emotional support and objective critique. "She was a physical therapist, and knows anatomy and muscle structure better than myself. She can catch flaws I would never see." Their son Nicolai was born in 1992. Dan Gerhartz' brilliant use of light and color has earned him numerous awards in his young career. His work has been featured in invitational exhibitions, including the Prix de West and the Artists of America exhibitions, as well as in public and private collections nationwide. He has taught workshops at the Scottsdale Artists' School and the Fechin Institute in Taos. "I always try to paint from the heart," he says. "Every day I thank God for the opportunity to do this."
“The soft moonlight reflecting off of the newly fallen snow and the lyrical lines of the aspen trees presented to me this beautiful, visual winter poem.”
Moonlight on the Aspens oil 16”x10”
“In my childhood I would enjoy exploring the world in detail by taking the family binoculars and looking through the reverse end to use them as a magnifying glass. Many wonders caught my eye and I was particularly amazed by the transformation within the details of a flower petal. What had appeared to be a solid surface looked to be thousands of tiny water pellets that reflected light back into my eye. I felt a return of this amazement as I observed these Ranunculus blooms, the white petals truly shimmered with the same prismatic effect I witnessed as a boy.”
Opalescence oil 30”x16” on the previous pages: Forever oil 30”x48”
In Awakening, a young woman is seated in a white dress with billowing sleeves layered with pastel color from the painting’s backdrop, in which pink cherry blossoms bloom against a soft wash of blue.
Awakening oil 36”x36”
Just Like Her oil 36”x24”
In addition to the figure, Gerhartz finds constant inspiration from the beauty of the landscape, particularly in his immediate environment in Wisconsin. Winter scenes with snowy river banks, fields and forests make their way into the show, representing the quiet simplicity of the season while holding onto the promise of spring.
The Space Between oil 16�x20�
Winter’s Final Blanket oil 16”x16”
Single Pearl oil 20”x16”
One unique floral piece in the show is “Enduring,” a descending white orchid that cascades before an abstracted landscape, giving an illusion of three-dimensional depth. Orchids are recurring subjects in Gerhartz’ work as the artist is drawn to classic symbols of beauty. “I don’t tire of classic beauty,” he says. “To me, there is such a profound message there and I’ve been gifted with a talent to convey that.”
Enduring oil 24”x12”
Tea, Rose and Pumpkin oil 20”x16”
Jewel oil 48”x30”
Warm Winter Days oil 18”x30”
The soft melody from the music box sends her back to a time when mother’s hand guided her every step. This young woman, familiar with loss as well as love, was able to beautifully portray the bittersweet nature often found in remembrance.
Melody and Remembrance oil 36”x30”
I always try to paint from the heart, every day I thank God for the opportunity to do this. -Daniel Gerhartz
Wrapped In Light oil 60�x30�
To Remember A Life oil 12”x16”
Daniel Gerhartz
Choosing Beauty
At Long Last Awakening
16x20 36x36
$7,200 $24,000
Enduring Forever Jewel Just Like Her Melody and Remembrance Moonlight On The Aspens Opalescence Single Pearl Tea, Rose and Pumpkin The Space Between To Remember A Life Warm Winters Days Winter’s Final Blanket Wrapped In Light
24x12 30x48 48x30 36x24 36x30 16x10 30x16 20x16 20x16 16x20 12x16 18x30 16x16 60x30
$6,500 $27,000 $27,000 $16,500 $19,800 $4,200 $11,000 $7,200 $7,200 $7,200 $4,900 $9,800 $5,800 $33,000
Daniel Gerhartz Education
The American Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois, September 1983 June 1985 Studied with artist/instructor John Baitinger, Kewaskum, Wisonsin Studied with artist/instructor Richard Schmid, Chicago, Illinois Studied figure drawing with artist/instructor Bill Parks at American Academy of Art
Select Awards
Nona Jean Hulsey-Buyer's Choice Award, Prix de West Invitational, NAWA, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma, 1999, 1994, 1993 Robert Lougheed Award, Prix de West Invitational, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1998 Silver Medal for Oil, National Academy of Western Art Exhibit, National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1993 Buyer's Choice Award, Northwest Rendezvous Exhibit, Kimball Art Center, Park City, Utah, 1992 John F. and Anna Lee Stacey Foundation Scholarship, 1998 Chicago Municipal Art League Award, 1988 President's Award - American Academy of Art, 1985 Faculty Recommendation Scholarship - American Academy of Art, 1985
Museum Collections
West Bend Art Museum, permanent collection, West Bend, Wisconsin, 1989 Huntsville Museum of Art, permanent collection, Huntsville, Alabama, 1997
Daniel Gerhartz
Choosing Beauty
At Long Last
oil 16”x20”
July 5-11, 2019 | Solo Exhibition Artist Reception Friday, July 5, 5-7 PM
225 Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 505.983.1434 www.meyergalleries.com