The Official Web Site of Fine Artist Daniel Herczak

Biography

Born and raised in Poland, I come from a rich and deep-rooted artistic tradition. From a young age, I was surrounded by the beautiful Impressionist paintings of my father (my first art teacher) and my grandfather. Perhaps that is why I flirt with Painterly Realism so often in my work, and why Impressionism is my favorite art style to this day.

Throughout my life, I branched out into many different styles and genres. When I was a child, I worked at a well-rounded background of drawing, painting, and sculpture. Art soon became my passion. Read more...

When the time came to make my first important life decisions, I decided to attend the High School of Fine Arts in Lodz, and after I graduated, I continued my education at the State College of Fine Arts in Lodz (currently the Antoni Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts). I graduated with a Master's in Industrial Design in 1992, and spent the next several years working mostly freelance in a diverse range of fields; from graphic design to computer programming to web development.

At the turn of the millennium I moved to the United States with my wife Krystyna and two sons. I started a new, full time, career: stay-at-home dad. After a few years spent doing nothing (all parents will know exactly what "doing nothing" looks like), I started looking for some change in my life. While contemplating my past I realized what I was missing all these years - art! This was truly the turning point in my life.

The prodigal son finally returned to painting in 2009, after more than 20 years away from the easel. I could not be happier with my decision. I am currently attempting to make a name for myself in the art community. A grateful and diligent student of Kevin Macpherson, I spend my days painting en plain air or in my studio.

Artist Statement

The world is full of beauty and wonders

Sadly most of us are too busy and too distracted to notice

I want to process the world's splendor

Through my sensitivity, feelings and emotions

I want to capture this beauty the best way I can

To share it with anyone willing

Education

  • 2011 - Kevin MacPherson's AMO Pro*D*J Program
  • 1986-1991 - Wladyslaw Strzeminski Academy of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland
  • 1981-1986 - High School of Fine Arts in Lodz, Poland

Meet the Artist

How did you decide to become an artist?
Looking back on my life, it seems to me that being an artist has always been my fate. Ever since I could remember, I was surrounded by the paintings and sculptures created by my grandpa, my dad and their friends. My older sister and my cousins all have fine art backgrounds, and even my mom studied painting at the Cracow Academy of Fine Art before she decided to pursue mathematics.

In these circumstances, it is obvious why drawing, painting and sculpting were an integral part of my childhood. Everyone in my family was very enthusiastic about my progress and my future seemed to be obvious. But as soon as I entered my rebellious teen years, all of that changed: I continued my art education but was spending all my spare time playing guitar and dreaming about being a rock star.

After 10 years I still hadn't been inducted into the Rock' n' Roll Hall of Fame… so I decided enough was enough, changed my focus from guitars to computers, and started learning about everything from computer graphics to advanced programming. My mom's mathematical genes kicked in, and with a head full of algorithms I escaped even further away from my destiny.

Fifteen years flew by. One day I came to terms with the fact that I was not entirely happy with my life. I realized with that drawing and painting were what I was missing.

Now, a few years later, I am still rediscovering myself as an artist and in spite of all obstacles and failures I have to say I am finally starting to enjoy myself!

What do you most love to paint?
Right now I'm enjoying landscapes, but in 2009 I favored portraits of Native Americans. Somewhere in between those periods I also had fun working on still lifes. Basically I like changes and new challenges - it keeps things fresh and protects me from boredom and routine.
What do you love about painting itself?
I really like process of painting, especially when I'm working with oils. I like the freedom this medium gives to me. And I generally love creating something from nothing.
What is your favorite sound?
A Gibson Les Paul guitar connected to a Marshall amp; Birds in the woods; Bacon sizzling on a hot frying pan; Silence.
What is your least favorite sound?
Claws on glass. That's how our cat demands I open the window for her.
What is your favorite music?
It depends on my mood - there are good days for Blues or Classic Rock and others for Progressive Rock or Metal. If I had to pick only one CD to live with on a lonely island it would be "The Dark Side of the Moon" by Pink Floyd.
Do you listen to the music while you are painting?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no - again it depends on my mood. Sometimes I need a boost from loud, fast music, sometimes I need it to help me slow and calm down, and there are days when silence is what serves me best.
What is your favorite book?
Actually I prefer series more than single books. Maybe because I really hate when a book ends right when I start to sink into it. My favorite series are: the Black Company by Glen Cook; Discworld by Terry Pratchett and the Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski - all of them are really great Fantasy!
What are your favorite Art books?
Fill Your Oil Paintings with Light & Color by Kevin Macpherson; Landscape Painting Inside and Out also by Kevin; and Hawthorne on Painting by Charles W. Hawthorne.

Both of the books written by Kevin Macpherson are just wonderful! Kevin is not only an amazing artist but also an excellent and experienced teacher. I really admire his simple and effective approach to teaching art.

Hawthorne on Painting is a very special book - it is actually a collection of notes made by students of Charles W. Hawthorne - artist, teacher and founder of Cape Cod School of Art. There are no illustrations in this book, which is strange for a book about painting. But after my initial surprise I realized that this fact is actually helping me to adapt all the knowledge to my own works.

What are you most proud of in your life?
My Family, My Sons.

Also, whenever I can manage to fully realize whatever plans I made - that is a big achievement for me. I am inclined to make digressions from projects… this, combined with my perfectionism, often transform my projects into never-ending, ever-evolving stories.

What accomplishments are you most proud of in your artistic career?
My first actually important artistic accomplishment was the fact that I was the only student in my Elementary School that was allowed by my art teacher, Mr. Wilk, to sign my work at the front instead of the back like everyone else.
If you can have dinner with anyone famous, past and present, who it would be?
I really love to have dinner with my grandpa, Wlodzimierz Herczak. He was truly an unsung hero: Polish patriot, soldier, community activist and artist. I truly admire him and his art and it would be wonderful to have the opportunity to spend an evening with him especially because I never had a chance to meet him. He died in car accident before I was born.
What brings you the greatest joy?
Oh, that's simple: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear lamentations of their women! Wait, I mean: to love and to be loved in return. :)
What is the one thing that people would be max surprised to learn about you?
Maybe that I was a singer in thrash metal band?
How do you describe yourself in one word?
Perfectionist (unfortunately)
If you could be something (-one?) else beside artist what it would be?
A musician. When I was in 6th grade I fell in love with music and it was a really hard landing. Since then and up to the middle of my 20s I was in countless bands, playing and singing different kinds of music. Even now creating music is a real pleasure.
When you are not painting, what do you enjoy doing?
Besides playing my guitars I really like to watching good movies, both fiction and documentaries. I also spend a lot of time browsing the internet because I enjoy learning new stuff, especially about the world and art history. A long time ago I used to spend a lot of time playing computer games like Quake II, Age of Empires or World of Warcraft but because I'm a recovering gamer now I don't even want to think about that, or else I’ll fall into virtual oblivion once again. ;)
What is the one place people will never find you?
A communist rally. I saw with my own eyes what a "better world" created by these ideas looks like. I know the evil it brings to the life of the ordinary people. I consider myself as open-minded guy but you would never have the chance to see me marching with this group.
If your studio was on fire, what one thing would you save?
In my studio I have a couple of paintings created by my dad and grandpa and they mean a lot to me. I definitely would try to save them first.
What do you hope to hear when you show up at the Pearly Gates?
"O.K. boy, you passed..." would be wonderful. :)