places I remember
"While I’ve been an artist for most of my life, I can’t say there has ever been a certain story I long to share;
instead, it’s through the act of creating that I discover a narrative and a meaning that compels me to do it again and again."
-Dan Brenton
instead, it’s through the act of creating that I discover a narrative and a meaning that compels me to do it again and again."
-Dan Brenton
To read more from both the artist and the curator, and to access the image info and price list, please scroll past the gallery.
To contact Dan, email: [email protected]
To contact Dan, email: [email protected]
I have reveled in the potential of the imagination my whole life. Stories from books or cartoons seemed as real as ever and held enough power to influence my decisions in reality. To create a story is a form of magic and the more I create, the more I believe. While I’ve been an artist for most of my life, I can’t say there has ever been a certain story I long to share; instead, it’s through the act of creating that I discover a narrative and a meaning that compels me to do it again and again.
One story that has occupied my mind for several years follows a man and a dog through imagined landscapes. I didn’t even have a dog of my own at the time of their inception. Their bond was more of a commentary on the possibility of profound friendship despite barriers of both language and species. From there the man and the dog helped me to create works that explore the relationship between humans and nature; understanding death through rebirth; and what it means to be present in the midst of a journey, even when the world feels like it’s coming apart.
While the man and the dog were with me in March 2020 when the world went dark there was a period of time we stayed apart. Towards the end of 2020 I found myself gravitating towards the idea of houses in remote landscapes. Given the emphasis on staying home this was not a surprising change of pace. These works are a combined effort of imagination and inspiration from my surroundings but, as I fleshed them out on paper they felt more like self-portraits. My depression crept into some of these night scenes where soft-lit windows struggle to keep the darkness away while in others I was joyfully building a home in the woods far from everything. As heavy as my head was during this period of time I never wanted these house paintings to feel like vacant structures; to me, they are the stage where the viewer gets to let their own story unfold.
Meaning is the product of creating rather than the driving force of the process. I paired these two bodies of work because at one time I never thought there was any relationship between a man and dog on a spiritual journey in nature and distant houses with no invitation to come inside. However, I am able to see a delicate balance of wandering and being stuck; dancing in the sunshine and concealed inside; the freedom of nature and the confinement of the mind. Despite the connections I see now, in time that will change and these new ideas will be the seeds that grow into a new story.
One story that has occupied my mind for several years follows a man and a dog through imagined landscapes. I didn’t even have a dog of my own at the time of their inception. Their bond was more of a commentary on the possibility of profound friendship despite barriers of both language and species. From there the man and the dog helped me to create works that explore the relationship between humans and nature; understanding death through rebirth; and what it means to be present in the midst of a journey, even when the world feels like it’s coming apart.
While the man and the dog were with me in March 2020 when the world went dark there was a period of time we stayed apart. Towards the end of 2020 I found myself gravitating towards the idea of houses in remote landscapes. Given the emphasis on staying home this was not a surprising change of pace. These works are a combined effort of imagination and inspiration from my surroundings but, as I fleshed them out on paper they felt more like self-portraits. My depression crept into some of these night scenes where soft-lit windows struggle to keep the darkness away while in others I was joyfully building a home in the woods far from everything. As heavy as my head was during this period of time I never wanted these house paintings to feel like vacant structures; to me, they are the stage where the viewer gets to let their own story unfold.
Meaning is the product of creating rather than the driving force of the process. I paired these two bodies of work because at one time I never thought there was any relationship between a man and dog on a spiritual journey in nature and distant houses with no invitation to come inside. However, I am able to see a delicate balance of wandering and being stuck; dancing in the sunshine and concealed inside; the freedom of nature and the confinement of the mind. Despite the connections I see now, in time that will change and these new ideas will be the seeds that grow into a new story.
Image Information & Price List
For all inquiries, email Dan at: [email protected]
1. When We’re Here Together
2022
Acrylic on Canvas
18x24 in.
$675
2. 100 Years in the Future
2021
Oil on Canvas
30x40 in.
$1850
3. Death Crosses Our Path
2020
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
4. Winter Forest Coming Back to Life
2019
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
12x9 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$300
5. Continuing
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
11x14 in. (framed size: 14x17 in.)
$350
6. Sunlight Will Find You
2022
Oil on Canvas
14x18 in.
$500
7. Soft Rain on the River
2020
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
8. Ponder the Water and the Sunshine
2019
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
9. The Longest Night
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
10. Left For Good
2020
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
11. Backyard
2021
Crayon on Paper (framed)
14x11 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
12. Making Sense of the Afterlife
2021
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
13. Wandering From the Nightly Shore
2020
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
14. Bathing in Sunset Light
2021
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
15. The House You Grew Up In
2021
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
16. A Little Man Stopped to Watch the World Change Colors with Us
2019
Gouache on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
17. Every Morning in the Summer
2021
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
18. A Beautiful Beginning, Again
2020
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
19. Morning Sun Makes the Hills Sing
2022
Acrylic on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
20. Keep the Light
2022
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
21. Psychedelic Drive
2021
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
14x11 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
22. Silent Mind
2022
Oil on Canvas
14x18 in.
$500
23. Early Morning
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
11x14 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
24. Moon Ripple
2021
Oil on Canvas
16x12 in.
$400
25. Something is Promising in the Cool, Quiet Embrace of Morning
2019
Oil on Canvas
16x20 in.
$600
26. Cold Snap
2022
Oil on Canvas
24x20 in.
$750
27. The Memory Attached to a Flower
2021
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
2022
Acrylic on Canvas
18x24 in.
$675
2. 100 Years in the Future
2021
Oil on Canvas
30x40 in.
$1850
3. Death Crosses Our Path
2020
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
4. Winter Forest Coming Back to Life
2019
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
12x9 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$300
5. Continuing
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
11x14 in. (framed size: 14x17 in.)
$350
6. Sunlight Will Find You
2022
Oil on Canvas
14x18 in.
$500
7. Soft Rain on the River
2020
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
8. Ponder the Water and the Sunshine
2019
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
9. The Longest Night
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
10. Left For Good
2020
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
20x16 in. (framed size: 23x19 in.)
$600
11. Backyard
2021
Crayon on Paper (framed)
14x11 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
12. Making Sense of the Afterlife
2021
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
13. Wandering From the Nightly Shore
2020
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
14. Bathing in Sunset Light
2021
Oil on Canvas
18x14 in.
$500
15. The House You Grew Up In
2021
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
16. A Little Man Stopped to Watch the World Change Colors with Us
2019
Gouache on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
17. Every Morning in the Summer
2021
Watercolor on Paper (framed)
16x20 in. (framed size: 19x23 in.)
$600
18. A Beautiful Beginning, Again
2020
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
19. Morning Sun Makes the Hills Sing
2022
Acrylic on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
20. Keep the Light
2022
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600
21. Psychedelic Drive
2021
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
14x11 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
22. Silent Mind
2022
Oil on Canvas
14x18 in.
$500
23. Early Morning
2020
Watercolor and Gouache on Paper (framed)
11x14 in. (framed size: 17x14 in.)
$350
24. Moon Ripple
2021
Oil on Canvas
16x12 in.
$400
25. Something is Promising in the Cool, Quiet Embrace of Morning
2019
Oil on Canvas
16x20 in.
$600
26. Cold Snap
2022
Oil on Canvas
24x20 in.
$750
27. The Memory Attached to a Flower
2021
Oil on Canvas
20x16 in.
$600