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A 14-inch by 10-inch canvas depicting the pedestrian bridge stretching through South Salina Street takes center stage in the new “Architecture of Central New York: Watercolors” exhibit in Gandee Gallery. The piece is one of 13 watercolor paintings from artist Dan Shanahan.

“My paintings are of different locations, mostly downtown in Syracuse and Syracuse University,” Shanahan said. “I just get a good feeling about someone being willing to show my art.”

Shanahan first started drawing at 8. He is from Syracuse and has lived in the area for most of his adult life. He pinpoints childhood cartoons as his source of artistic inspiration, mainly the work of Don Martin and Walt Kelly. His latest exhibit is on display at the Gandee Gallery in Fabius and features watercolor paintings of some of his favorite buildings in the area.

The exhibition contains 13 of Shanahan’s plein-air paintings, which is a French technique that involves painting on location, Shanahan said. According to Artists Network, plein-air paintings are “about leaving the four walls of your studio behind and experiencing painting and drawing in the landscape.”

It was not until his late 20s that he started to take his artistic prowess seriously. After he moved to Seattle, Shanahan participated in figure drawing sessions and started to draw more. He began to do a drawing every month, then moved onto one painting a few times a week.

Shanahan moved back to Syracuse after dealing with some health issues. While in Syracuse, he began drawing elaborate cartoons and moved onto plein-air paintings. Now, he often does watercolor paintings and ink drawings. He occasionally does pastel drawings as well.

Shanahan was inspired to start plein-air paintings by his friend who often created them of the woods. He was also inspired by his need to be outdoors, especially in the summer.

Gandee Gallery owner and operator Jen Gandee worked closely with Shanahan to bring his art to life in her gallery. Gandee opened the gallery in 2009 and is a creator of pots and collages. The gallery specializes in “handmade objects and fine art.”

“Dan’s paintings are full of life,” Gandee said. “People, cars and all that surrounds us that we take little notice of.”

Local CNY artist Lucie Wellner connected Shanahan with Gandee, whose art focuses on watercolor paintings and ceramics. She had much to say about his work and growth as an artist over the past decade.

“I am continuously amazed by Dan’s talent and ability to get better and better at whatever he does,” Wellner said.

Wendell applauded Shanahan’s ability to capture every bit of an area, complementing them with his own painting style.

“His plein-air paintings of the local urban scenes are very beautiful in technique and color. And also a lot of fun to look at carefully because of the little details, especially the figures,” Wellner said.

These environmental paintings in the exhibit took about four hours to paint and were completed over one to two days. Shanahan creates these paintings from an angular view that shows “more perspective,” he said.

“I try to see everything in angles,” Shanahan said. “I don’t necessarily look straight on the buildings.”

Shanahan tends to create plein-air paintings in the summer and focuses on carefully drawn cartoons throughout the rest of the year.

The first location he painted was Oakwood Cemetery, where he captured the outdoor landscape, filled with gravestones and monuments. Shanahan has also moved to primarily creating plein-air paintings because of their popularity amongst art consumers.

“I went there so no one would be watching me, just to be outside,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan previously showcased his art at Everson Museum of Art, Onondaga Historical Association. Now, he’s thrilled about it being at Gandee.

“I get excitement and happiness that people want to see it (my art),” Shanahan said.

Published on October 23, 2023 at 10:29 pm