Daggi Wallace - Portfolio of Works

I am currently interested in exploring the subject of teeange angst and anxiety. As a mother of teens myself, I am amazed how much more difficult life is as an adolescent now in comparison to when I was that age.
"Secrets" and "This, too, Shall Pass" portray some of the emotions young people are dealing with, but that we can all relate to from our own experiences.
I'm also continuing to add to my motherhood/maternity series. Some are commissions by the parents-to-be and some are for sale and have been entered into competitions and exhibits.

"The character of a face in a drawing depends not upon its various proportions, but upon a spiritual light which it reflects."
Henri Matisse

To capture that light is a never ending challenge, a quest I started as a child with my first portrait at age 11.
I absolutely love painting the human face and never tire of the endless variety of lines, values and forms.
Discovering the subtle colors in flesh tones and portraying the emotions behind the gaze is what conitnues to inspire me.
Portraits are an excellent way to honor a loved one or capture a special moment in your life. They are treasures to be handed down for generations.
They can be painted in a contemporary style or a traditional pose.
Click here for the commission fee and procedures: http://www.daggistudio.com/other1

"You have got to use your eyes as well as your emotions, and one without the other just doesn't work."
Andrew Wyeth

Sometimes it's a group of figures I come across on the street, in an established setting. At other times I have an idea I want to explore and I get to pose my model just the way I want, control the lighting and clothing. In either case, it's the story behind the image that I want to make visible to the viewer.

My series of surfers was inspired not only by the beauty of the ocean's colors but by the interaction between man and nature. The surfers' twisted, angular bodies juxtaposed against the flowing, moving waves create a natural abstract design that is a joy to observe. Spending many hours on the beaches of California and Hawaii photographing the surfers becomes a kind of meditation for me, a spiritual experience I hope to pass along to the viewer.

A new and ongoing series of blues and jazz musicians, some famous, some not, some living, some not. Some of the paintings were done from reference photos from books or the internet, some were done from my own reference photos of the artists. I will continue to add on to this series as time permits so keep checking back!

"The artist does not draw what he see, but what he must make others see."
Edgar Degas

I'm very fortunate to have the ability to travel frequently and to have family spread over several countries. I often find myself so inspired by the mood of a place, the visual beauty of the local colors, natural designs made by the shape of mountains or fields, that I will take a break from my usual subject matter of people to dwell in the landscape a little longer. Some of these are painted on location, others in the studio. I'd be happy to paint a commission from one of your own photos. It's a great way to remember a vacation or location with a special meaning. These make very personal, treasured gifts.

Although, I do not paint a lot of still lifes or florals, every now and then I thoroughly enjoy "playing" with a set-up and painting from life. A still life gives me total control over the concept, set-up and having some fun injecting humor into the title. The florals are done from photographs from my travels, where I can spend hours in parks and botanical gardens. Growing up in Europe, flowers were always present in our home and they continue to be an important part of my daily surroundings.