About Me

• For years I have been interested in the visual arts, especially drawing and painting. When I moved to California in 1972, friends introduced me to Buddhist art. Intrigued by the detail, designs, iconography, and use of colors, I began to study Tibetan Buddhist art as well as Buddhist teachings and symbolism. During the last few years, I found that I wanted to work more with this art, and apply it to my personal interests and growth process.

• Circles and flames are shapes that I appreciate and respect. I like to work with them, explore them, and experiment with combinations of these shapes and colors. The circle is the basis for my mandala art pieces. It is the central structure of the mandala and the starting point for all details, colors and symbols. Painting or drawing a mandala is a meditative process for me – a time to think, concentrate, create, and center myself. Rendering the image of the Buddha and creating mandalas is very peaceful.

- Daniel Meehan

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An Auto-interview

(Interviewer) What is your favorite painting?

(DM) The one I am working on at this time.

(int) Can you tell me about your background and Art background?

(DM) Ahh, good question. I will try to be concise. I was born in Cyprus Hills 1947, Brooklyn, New York City. Raised in Richmond Hill Queens, New York City. My dad, Daniel Meehan, taught me lots of things, but the most important was showing me how to paint on a straight line. But he introduced to  lots of other things too, fishing, electronics, photography, carpentry, home repair and car maintenance. I like to draw as a child, and drew cartoons and cowboys all the time. In high school, I was fortunate enough to receive a modern day “Bauhaus” style education, sheet metal and machine shop, mechanical drafting, electronics, wood working and 2 years of commercial art. After high school I learned how to program computers and worked in a data center in New York City ,until I was drafted in the US Army during the Vietnam conflict. This learned skill with computers helped me and my family in so many ways for most of my life.  When I was released from military duty, I studied photography at the New York School of Visual Art. In 1972 I migrated from New York City to San Francisco, I was fortunate to have good friends there to help me get established. I loved San Francisco in 1972. The city was cool then, but drugs and crime were starting to increase.  i lived in San Francisco and Berkeley , then moved to the Palo Alto area, and was working on computers in silicon valley.   All the while practicing art when ever I could.  I was interested in mandala and Buddhist thangka painting, and studied these areas. After retiring from working on computers, I became interested in doing art again, and for the last several years I grew again as an artist, and found good energy from making art.  

Now, I live in a magical place, with my wife Alice and family, on the edge of an ancient northern California savanna forest in a Mediterranean climate, on the San Francisco peninsula. Home too many valley oaks and live oaks with their majestic presence and energy. 

(int) What genres of art and related fields are you interested in?

(DM) that’s the question I myself am interested in.  Architecture and architectural elements, Mayan and Aztec cultures, Roman and Greek cultures and histories, California history, Western Americana, Tibetan art, Buddhist art, Mexican culture, Southwestern arts and culture. Music (rock, jazz and classical), structural engineering, geology, curves generated by geometry, Japanese prints, Intuit culture, and Civil War History. Agave's and succulents.

(int) What is your art work day like. Do you have a favorite time to create?

(DM) Mornings are good, afternoons and evenings are fine.  It depends on what is going on in my life. Anytime really.

(int) what are you trying to say? what is the message behind all this imagery

(DM) I consider myself to be a visual explorer. I am interested in shape, design, pattern and form and line, color and rhythm, and where these come together and reach a balance. I usually start with an idea or photograph, and use sketches to develop ideas.  I will take an idea, and paint it several times to get the balance right.  

(int) where do you find inspiration

(DM) Nature. Light. Here in California, the light is pure, and is reflected off the Pacific Ocean. The sky is a deep inspiring blue, the light is very positive. 

(int) tell me about your favorite medium

(DM) I have tried many traditional mediums, oil, acrylic, photography, ink, pencil, watercolors.  

My current medium is watercolor, as I have found that using glazing or washes, you can bring out the rich essence of colors.  Watercolor paints typically do not form a cohesive paint layer, as do acrylic or oil paints, but simply scatter pigment particles randomly across the paper surface, the transparency is caused by the paper being visible between the particles. Watercolors may appear more vivid than acrylics or oils because the pigments are laid down in a purer form, with few fillers obscuring the pigment colors. I usually paint on Arches 400 pound paper. I have applied as many as 30 washes of colors to some paintings, and I am very satisfied with the results. I pay attention to the watercolor attributes, transparency, staining and granulation to varying degrees. Transparency is most important in achieving vibrant vivid colors. 

I hope to return to the oil medium someday, I am very interested in the technique Mischtechnik or mixed technique. 

(int) Thank you

(DM) Your welcome. I hope we all get to make art of some form, it is a great and rewarding game, and it is fun!