By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
This summer, New Woodstock resident and fine artist Daniel K. Tennant will exhibit his work in a solo show at Settlers West Gallery in Tucson, Arizona.
On display from Aug. 7 through Sept. 4, the show will feature 16 original gouache (opaque watercolors) paintings, the majority of which were completed within the past five years.
The life-like paintings depict a variety of subjects, including day lilies in bottles, a 1929 Ford truck, old tools, an autumn road, still life pieces with jugs on quilts, a blacksmith shop, Elk Lake, books on a shelf, and sunflowers in a vase.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the show will also be displayed virtually at settlerswest.com.
Founded in 1971 by current owners Stuart and Melody Johnson, Settlers West specializes in western, wildlife and fine American art and represents some of today’s most recognized painters and sculptors.
Settlers West has represented Tennant since 2016. Previously, Gallery Henoch, Bernarducci-Meisel Gallery and Hammer Galleries in New York City represented the artist.
“A client of Hammer Galleries bought one of my still lifes back in 2006,” Tennant said. “I sent him some images in 2016 and he said he was downsizing his collection but asked, ‘Would you be interested in being represented by one of the best galleries out west?’ I said yes. He wrote a recommendation to the [Settlers West] director who then contacted me after seeing my work and took me on as one of his permanent artists.”
The upcoming exhibition will be Tennant’s first solo show at the gallery.
“Because of the COVID-19 virus, I knew the gallery was a little slow this summer, so I asked my dealer, Stuart Johnson, if he would consider having an online virtual show of my work,” said Tennant. “He thought it was a great idea, and they [decided to also hang] all 16 paintings in the gallery . . . It is very rare for me to have 16 pieces all together as each painting can take months to complete, so this has been a golden opportunity to have the show.”
According to Tennant, the number of visitors to the gallery is limited and there will not be an opening reception.
Tennant graduated from Cazenovia High School, where he studied under nationally recognized watercolorist Merrill A. Bailey (1909-1981).
“Bailey was one of the country’s most accomplished watercolor painters and yet he chose to teach in Cazenovia his entire teaching career,” Tennant said. “He taught by example and when we saw his work we realized the beauty of watercolors. I went down a slightly different path in that I still used watercolors, but mine were opaque and his were transparent. He did teach me a lot about transparent watercolors though and his love for painting was contagious.”
The artist added that his article about Bailey’s painting techniques, titled “Master of the Moment,” will be printed in the Dec. 2020 issue of “Watercolor Artist” magazine.
After high school, Tennant continued his art education at Syracuse University, where he graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of fine arts in painting and a master of science in art education.
Tennant went on to become a high school art teacher, instructing students at the Bainbridge-Guilford High School in Chenango County for 32 years.
The artist has worked exclusively in gouache since 1979 and has been recognized as one of the most technically proficient artists working in the medium.
“It is one of the oldest mediums and one of the brightest,” Tennant said. “It thins with water and has a matte finish, which is great for photographing. One can achieve precise detail with it and it will last longer than an oil painting if framed properly and kept out of direct sunlight.”
In 2019, Tennant was awarded the grand prize in the Adirondacks National Exhibition of American Watercolors — an annual show held at VIEW arts center in Old Forge, NY.
His 2010 book, “Realistic Painting” (Walter Foster Publishing) has sold 35,000 copies, and his article “All About Gouache” was published in the Aug. 2020 issue of “Watercolor Artist.”
Tennant’s artwork has appeared on book covers and in magazines, books, calendars and limited edition prints.
In addition, his work has been exhibited in museums and galleries across the country and is in permanent museum collections, as well as private and corporate collections in the United States and abroad.
To view and learn more about Tennant’s work, visit danielktennant.com.
