Dan Varnals works

“I would describe myself as a realist; my inspiration comes from my environment. Perhaps it is the patterns of light and shadow or the way colors are effected by sunlight and reflections that catch my eye. The challenge of capturing these qualities is what fascinates me. The subject matter can range from the mundane to the magnificent, but the goal remains to capture and reveal these essential qualities.

A childhood passion for drawing and painting led to the adult realization that this is what I do best. I attended art school at St. Martin's School of Art, London, England, and then the University of British Columbia, where I earned a Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Art Education. This, in turn, led to a career as a high school teacher where I found that the challenges of teaching left little time or energy to pursue my own art. Now, having taken early retirement, I am free again to do what I do best.

My subject matter has primarily been the west coast rainforest and its coastline. Having lived for several years in the historic fishing port of Steeveston, I developed a fascination with not only the boats but also to all the functional elements of fishing. The ropes, hoses, chains, nets, floats and fenders.  Add to this the effect of sunlight, cast shadows and light sparkling on and reflecting off the water.  The used look of the boats -the rust stains, the identification numbers and so on - all convey the reality of a working fishing village.

Upon arriving in the Vancouver area some forty years ago, I immediately felt a sense of awe and inspiration from the coastal rain forest. The magnificent Cedars and Douglas Firs, the lush and dense undergrowth, the cycle of growth, decay and re- growth all revealed by the patterns of light and shadow through the foliage. These are elements I strive to capture and convey in my paintings.”

Sadly, Dan passed away in August 2020.