DANNY MCSHANE
Hi!
Welcome to my website, LivingWatercolour.com -there are a few other artists called Danny McShane around so I hope you've found the right one. I paint watercolour exclusively and mostly plein air scenes around north-east Scotland. My Instagram and Facebook are dannymcshane365 (link buttons above).
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I'm a self-taught watercolour painter having been a subsea engineer for most of my working life. Now I find myself painting, or thinking about it, most days. I live in Fyvie in rural Aberdeenshire with my wife, Jan.
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When I discovered watercolour relatively late I was frankly astonished by it. That sense of wonder hasn't worn off and I continue to be surprised by this magical medium in what I hope will be a life-long pursuit. I made the decision from the start to stick to one medium, watercolour, because it's so capable yet has a direct simplicity and beauty of its own... well, really because I fell completely in love with it.
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My favourite style is a fresh impressionistic realism that shows off light and colour and lends itself to the rush of painting outdoors while managing to look relaxed and happy about it. I like those paintings best that have a lively spontaneity, and that look happy to be paintings rather than wanting to be photographs. So, not photo-realistic but not not too abstract, just right in the middle! The charm for me is in the look of watercolour pigment on paper, the textures and brushstrokes, and the visible human touch. I like to see how the simple marks suggest just enough information to build into surfaces and objects and make a whole scene. I also think watercolour does 'happy' better than any other medium and in the process I find a joie de vivre I hope comes through in the finished work . My paintings are intended to be cheering, life affirming, and carefree looking. I enjoy painting them and being in these interesting places -so If looking at a painting can raise your spirits just a little then the exercise has been doubly worthwhile. That's my whole theory of art.
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Feel free to drop me a line, at dannymcshane@gmail.com, with any enquiries or just to say hello . Ditto if you're local (ish) and would like to meet up to paint outside.
Click here for info about sales & commissions.
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Danny.