What’s on the Easel Articles

When We Dream, Life Becomes Amazing

When We Dream, Life Becomes Amazing

After delivering my new painting, When We Dream, to Hughes Gallery in Boca Grande, I stopped in Venice at sunset for an enlightening dinner on the beach with a friend. It was late when the meal ended, and I eased my weary body into my van for the middle of the night...

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If I Can Dream

If I Can Dream

Undeniable beauty exists in our world. It permeates our lives, flourishes in our joyous moments, and shimmers in our suffering like an aurora borealis dancing in a frozen winter sky. Beauty can be a pathway to transcendence. Authentic beauty is...

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Living in Astonishment

Living in Astonishment

The Messenger and Asleep to Dream IV are new egg tempera paintings just off the easel and headed to Hughes Gallery for their winter season. They are visual indicators of thoughts I circle. In essence, perhaps these two paintings are simply about noticing...

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Why I Hired a Book Editor

Why I Hired a Book Editor

  Daniel writing in a North Carolina barn 2005.   I printed a hard copy of my upcoming book, The Art of Daniel Ambrose, and passed it around for review. And thank you to everyone who signed up to buy a copy when it's published.   Comments were...

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Nesting: Unimaginable Journeys

Nesting: Unimaginable Journeys

Nesting, egg tempera painting by Daniel Ambrose I began this egg tempera painting, Nesting, intent on expressing a single idea. I made drawings, notes and even painted a tiny egg tempera color study to resolve various aesthetic problems before beginning the painting....

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Major New Oil Painting: Aquablue

Major New Oil Painting: Aquablue

Aquablue is a significant painting, singing of sea life and light. From conception to completion, almost a decade in the making. During the summer of 2006 I sat on the beach every morning and painted the sunrise. I painted it in my sketchbook...

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Into the Mystery

Into the Mystery

I started practicing yoga three months ago. It's hard and hot. Learning a new discipline parallels the experience of dedicating myself to study painting decades ago. Challenge, concentration, frustration. In addition, breathing, balance, and alignment compete for my...

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New Book! The Art of Daniel Ambrose

New Book! The Art of Daniel Ambrose

I was surprised to see a copy of my new book, The Art of Daniel Ambrose, in the mailbox today, since it wasn't due to arrive until mid December. It's my first book. A curated collection of blog posts from 2006-2012, including snippets from my sketchbooks, a few poems...

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New Egg Tempera: Spring Moonrise

New Egg Tempera: Spring Moonrise

Fiery pink and gold banners unfurl across the sky, greeting me as I exit the darkened restaurant. Satisfied and solitary, I steer towards the river to catch the show, maybe paint a tropical palm sketch as a prize for my Facebook Studio "likes." Following the river...

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