An Inspiring Visit with Artist Daniel McClendon

by Greg Vineyard

You know when you have an elusive, yet ever-present idea in your brain, waiting for that big bang where it suddenly all comes together? These moments of clarity bring forth new series that delight artists and art appreciators alike.

On Friday, March 21, 2011, at 3:59 a.m., painter Daniel McClendon had one of these particularly powerful epiphanies, where it all suddenly solidified. He sketched a bison on the last page of a Double Tree Hotel notepad, the first sketch for a new series that became what the world saw at the November, 2011, River Arts District Studio Stroll.

Which is when I saw the resultant final bison painting, and all the other new works gracing the walls of his new space, dubbed “The Lift Studios”, in honor of the mechanical device toward the rear. I immediately appreciated both the space and the art, and how well each balances with each other, much as Daniel and his wife, Michelle, complement each other in their new adventure.

Daniel remarked on all this when we met again recently, noting that the building and the work are tied together in a way, where it just seemed to have been made for his artwork. It’s that magical pairing, the sort that seems to happen when all is flowing along the right track.

Full of colorful energy, Daniel’s paintings are lined up on the brick walls in this gorgeously restored, split-level industrial space that’s also ideal for events. These large representations of animals swirl within powerfully laid-out splashes and scratches and scrawlings. I enjoy their instantaneous nature, as well as hearing about the artist’s path that led to such raw, authentic visions. Daniel has harnessed that next wave of his own artistic energy, something many artists, including me, strive for, and are inspired by.

Daniel explained to me that he appreciates his path in our arts-related community of Asheville, and how it has provided a real-world education. Working in a different style previously, his new inspiration and passion made his old life feel like he was “welding the same car part over and over,” whereas now he gets to have a passionate engagement with his creative process every day, without struggle or over-thinking. He is at a point where his current mode simply flows, and “specifically shows the process that’s been in my mind for a long time.” He has found that common ground where method and visuals are one.

Part of an artist’s success is a balance of talent and pragmatism. Daniel acknowledges a realism about efficiency and costs in business, and that it’s great to have a partner who watches those things, too. Michelle is Business Manager (aka “The Lift Operator”), does the numbers and runs the event opportunities. A cool dog named Huck rounds out this trio making a neighborhood-friendly go of things in one of the best places in the country to do it.

Daniel and Michelle started working on The Lift Studios last summer. With sales and commissions going well, the couple is staying busy, and will be inviting everyone to a grand opening sometime in the near future. Join their mailing list at www.danielmcclendon.com, and be sure to check out Daniel’s work on-line and when you’re in the River Arts District! Located at 349 Depot Street, they are open Tues-Sat, 10-5, and by appointment. On the front window, down low, it reads “A Daniel McClendon Fine Art Space.” There couldn’t be a more perfect sentence to describe the experience as one steps inside.