Daniel Zimmerman
describes their creative process
My creative process is not linear. Creativity is like a tumbleweed constantly rolling on and picking up new ideas. I faithfully journal to capture these ideas and know they will inevitably begin appearing in my future work. I review my journals regularly, and often old ideas come alive again when viewed from a different context.
When inspiration strikes, I focus on honing in on precisely what resonated within me. Once I understand the core message, I develop a story and begin planning composition, color, symbolic elements, etc. I pull from the information and ideas gathered along my travels and learned through life experiences. I combine them and consult my journal regularly to unearth forgotten thoughts and ideas.
Building in layers, I assemble each portrait and work the painting until the desired emotional effect is sufficiently embedded into the work. Sometimes this means a completed and fully rendered portrait; sometimes, I stop along the way and leave the work partially unfinished. I want the viewer to be a part of the work - each piece resonates differently based on the viewer's own life experiences - this is where the connection happens.
I do not take time to try to "cover my tracks" - I value the lively feeling of studio art. I want the viewer to see the energy that went into the painting - and the layers built up from under-drawing to layer on layer of paint.
