Clayton News Daily

Photo by Curt Yeomans Arts Clayton Gallery Assistant Courtney Fort points out some of her favorite details in an oil painting by Hampton-based artist Dan Garcia, depicting a squirrel climbing a tree. The Jonesboro gallery is showcasing an exhibit of Garcia’s work this month. 

An oil painting of a squirrel, hanging in one of the rooms at the Arts Clayton Gallery, in Jonesboro, caused an observer to do a double take, on Tuesday.

The painting, done by Hampton-based artist Dan Garcia, was included in an exhibit of Garcia’s paintings and color-pencil drawings, at the gallery.

The painting of the squirrel contained so much detail, however, that it looked like a photograph. It was only upon a close inspection that the brushstrokes could be seen, a tell-tale sign that it was, indeed, a painting.

“I like the way he handles things,” said Arts Clayton Gallery Assistant Courtney Fort. “It’s very detailed and intricate.”

Fort explained that Garcia’s work is being featured through Nov. 23 at the gallery, located at 136 South Main Street, in Jonesboro. The exhibit, simply entitled “The Artwork of Dan Garcia,” officially opened to the public last Friday.

“It [the opening reception] went really well, and a lot of people were here,” Forte said. “A lot of Dan’s friends came to see his artwork.”

Garcia, who won “Best of Show” in Arts Clayton’s juried artwork competition, in February, included several paintings and drawing he has done, featuring Native Americans, and other individual faces, as well as some nature scenes.

There are approximately 30 paintings and drawings in the exhibit, featuring the color-pencil drawings, acrylic paintings and oil paintings. It also includes some mixed-media artwork, which blends multiple styles into one image.

“I like the fact that he starts out with dark prints, and then he builds up the color,” Forte said.

His written biography, which is on display with the exhibit, reveals that he is a self-taught artist, who was inspired by wildlife artists Maynard Reese and Robert Bateman. The biography also shows that he started out in oil painting, before moving on to acrylic painting, and eventually progressing to color-pencil drawings.

Garcia could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.