DANIEL Zimmerman’s art mirrors a garden in the sense that he doesn’t try to control the flow of his paintings any more than he does the plants he cultivates. A lover of all things green, the Atlanta-based artist works from a living, breathing studio that inspires his soul to create, having imagined for himself a world shut away from the noise and clutter of the outside world.
“Creativity—and, with it, optimism—comes from light and freedom,” Zimmerman says. “The studio needs to be full of sunlight, and the air needs to be free of too much influence from the outside world—meaning, I try to ignore what I’m supposed to do to fit into the art world and just do what brings me true and lasting joy.”
Zimmerman’s first experience with a garden studio was as a child, when he visited a pottery artist whose space enchanted him and opened his impressionable young mind to the possibilities of a life lived creatively. A later visit to Monet’s garden at Giverny further motivated his desire to design a garden studio that would not only inspire his own work but also inspire anyone who came into the space. “People love the feeling of coming into the studio,” he notes. “It is such a large space, with art supplies everywhere. For many creatives, it’s a dream space. I love sharing it, and I hope that others can just feel inspired to be there. I’m not trying to change lives, but if someone gets to feel what I feel when I’m in my studio and that inspires them, then I’m happy.”
Working in a space surrounded by plants and natural beauty is deeply important to Zimmerman, who approaches his work with a sense of intention unlocked by open-mindedness. “The way I paint is pretty free, so I need my mind to be full of the life and beauty of the surroundings in order for those concepts to come through in my work,” he says. “Inspiration can come from anywhere. The older I get, the more I find in other people. I love to socialize, and every now and then, someone’s energy will rub off on me and inspire me to paint. I always seize those moments, and they often produce the best work. These are creations born of passion, not from a duty to perform but from love itself.”
