THERE are many influences that can be seen in Daniel Zimmerman’s work. His early grasp of painting and innate talent provided much from which to draw as he grew older and honed his technique. His love of plants and botanicals is rooted in a youth spent in greenhouses and working outdoors. A visit to an artist’s studio when he was very young exposed his impressionable mind to something that unlocked his future as a professional painter. “It showed me that this was a viable and incredible way of life, and I’ve been on the journey to have it ever since,” Zimmerman recalls. “Being there was a completely immersive experience, way back before that was even a concept. It was like he had created his own world—everything was so interesting. I learned that being an artist is more of a lifestyle than just a job, and that’s how I set up my life now. It’s an all-encompassing way of life for me, and the way my studio and garden is set up to help inspire my work is based off this experience.”
Zimmerman has indeed created a life for himself as a studio artist. “I explore whatever is inspiring me in the moment to the best of my ability and constantly work to improve my skills,” notes the artist, whose style explores an amalgamation of impressionism, realism and even certain aspects of neo-expressionism as he paints the richly colored, textural plants, flowers and portraits that he has become known for. “I love paint itself. It feels powerful in its ability to create, and the heavy pigmentation feels full of potential. A lot of my work celebrates the textural nature of very thick oil paint. I also love color. It is both thrilling to paint with and impactful to the viewer. I want my work to exude energy and part of what makes that happen is a heavy saturation of pure color.”
Scale is another factor of Zimmerman’s work, as he sees the value in not limiting himself to the confines of a small canvas. “I want viewers to be stopped in their tracks when they come across my work, like you have walked into a garden you didn’t know existed and you have to take a minute to absorb what you are seeing and feeling,” he says.
Zimmerman is self-represented, and he works with a team for showings, sales and installations across the country.
DANIEL ZIMMERMAN
678.662.6761
