New York City – The renowned prince of Imaginary Realism, Daniel Merriam returns to Animazing Gallery to autograph copies of his 3rd book, ‘Taking Reality by Surprise’. The book-signing took place at Animazing Gallery in Soho, New York on April 16th, before an exhibtion of new works by the artist opens to the public on April 17th. The exhibition will run until May 15th 2011. ‘Taking Reality by Surprise’ is a complete catalogue raisonné in a 276 page hardcover coffee-table format book with an astonishing collection of artwork. Daniel Merriam’s imagination is unsurpassed in a world where playfulness and beauty are everything. The accompanying exhibition, also called ‘Taking Reality by Surprise’ is a collection of new works that mark the Artist’s fifth year with Animazing Gallery in SoHo as well as the title of the book.
“After publishing prints of my works over the years, and being surrounded by countless proofs of my images, I could no longer resist the temptation to play around with them; with paint and brush in hand, I decided to rework the images in my life’s portfolio. The foundation of these works is a pigmented print on primed canvas, usually printed lighter than the original. I stretch the canvas on a large easel and begin to paint over it with numerous layers of acrylic paints and glazes. The piece is finished when I arrive at the new vision I have for it. I may later stretch a canvas of the same image again and try a different approach. The process takes a full day and is exhausting, but the end result is invigorating because I have been able to take such risks with my imagery, and something unique has unfolded. Had I performed this by re-creating a new original of this scale each time, it would have taken me several lifetimes to complete. Thank you for indulging my whims and I hope you enjoy these large scale works.” – – Daniel Merriam
Widely renowned as one of the world’s best watercolorists, Daniel Merriam emerged on the art scene in his early 20’s, and has captured the hearts and curiosity of collectors worldwide. Merriam’s published works and books are in many important private collections and museums. His paintings were introduced to Europe in a museum exhibition that traveled from Denmark to the Netherlands and Nice. In May 2008 his paintings were showcased with Salvador Dali’s in a surrealist exhibition in Sedona, Arizona. Original paintings, bronzes and graphic work by Daniel Merriam are permanently showcased at Animazing Gallery in SoHo, New York and within the Chateau Belcastel in France. Born in 1963 in a rural town in Maine, Daniel Merriam is one of seven artistic children. He taught himself to paint at a very young age, and used his art as a method of reflective play throughout his childhood. Merriam studied mechanical and architectural design at Central Maine Vocational Technical Institute. While still in school, he applied his dimensional skills and passion for architecture to his family’s design and construction business. He first turned professionally to the field of architectural design, where his illustrations received numerous awards including several Broderson Awards, a New England Scholastic Press Association Award, and an Honorary Masters of Human Letters from the University of New England in recognition of the potential social contribution of his work. Merriam’s true passion always remained painting the expression of his own inner vision.
In 1986, Merriam shifted his focus solely to fine art, and later that year had his first solo exhibition in Maine. Since then, his exhibitions throughout the United States have been lauded and achieved critical acclaim. In 1998, Monarch Editions published ‘The Art of Daniel Merriam: The Impetus of Dreams’, which captured selections from a decade of the artist’s work. In 2005 the book was inducted into the permanent archives of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. In 2006, ‘Eye of the Dreamer’ was released, by the same publisher, and has also been included in the library of New York’s Society of Illustrators. Merriam’s work is displayed in many public collections including The Riverside Museum of Art in California, The Gesundheit! Institute in Virginia and the Manhattan Club in New York. Merriam has painted covers for books by Paula Volsky and Neal Barrett Jr., as well as for international literary journal, The Mid-American Review. The artist’s work was used for the playbill of A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare produced by the Tony® Award-winning McCarter Theatre in New Jersey. Merriam’s paintings were recently acquired for the corporate collection of Merrill Lynch.
A SoHo landmark since 1984, Animazing Gallery offers a unique collection of art that indulges the senses and emotions with color, playfulness and beauty. Paintings, sculpture, American illustration, and vintage animation created by some of the most talented and innovative artists of our time are showcased in our New York gallery and within the exhibition halls of the Château de Belcastel in France. Artists & studios represented by the gallery include Dr. Seuss, Charles M. Schulz, Maurice Sendak, Daniel Merriam, Tim Burton, Tom Everhart, Disney, Warner Bros., Ralph Bakshi, Bill Watterson, D.C. & Marvel Comics, Hanna-Barbera, and many more. Animazing Gallery is located in SoHo, New York and within the Chateau de Belcastel in Aveyron France. Visit the gallery’s website at … http://www.animazing.com