Recognized as a gifted artist in Jr. High School
Daniel was invited to attend Otis Parsons Art Institute Summer scholarship programs in 1967 & 1968. The life drawing classes
and recycling art projects inspired him to pursue fine art. His college curriculum included graphic design, architecture,
technical illustration, electronic drafting & photography. He learned about the funeral industry working part time for
Kiefer & Eyerick mortuary in Glendale, California while attending Glendale Community College.
Education in drafting continued with Cherokee International a computer power supply
company in Orange County, California. Daniel became Senior Draftsman for a utility planning company in San Clemente, California.
Relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and worked for the Salt River Project & Arizona Public Service engineering departments as
a draftsman. He worked in the drafting field until manual drafting became obsolete and was replaced by computer aided drafting.
Now retired Daniel creates hand sculpted bas-relief designs from the organic
medium he developed. The medium dries hard and has the appearance of stone. Painting the finished work with acrylic, epoxy,
bio "green seal" paints or leaving it natural earth colored he seals it with polyurethane or cactus juice. Enhancing his work
with sand, glass, stones and metallic finishes makes a beautiful contrast on the sculpted medium. His organic medium is composed
of plant, wood, flowers, earth and stone.
His memorial artwork looks the same, but has cremated ashes interred into the
medium. Ripley's Publishing is featuring his work in their 8th edition encyclopedia. And Ripley's Believe it or Not entertainment
bought a work for exhibit in their Orlando, Florida museum. Daniel's abstract and expressionist artwork is created with vision,
honor, and cultural symbolism. Action Painting takes place with each work, layer upon layer of various colors. Various textures
can be felt with your hands and explored with your eyes. Like a stone relic from a dig, it gives meaning to those who discover
the symbolism in the piece.
During his vacations he traveled throughout Southern Mexico and Guatemala. With
interest in Mayan, Mixtec, and Zapotec cultures, he visited many archaeological sites. Daniel made a career change in 1998
due to drafting transitioning to computerization. Relocated to Oaxaca, Mexico where he learned earth medicine from natural
healers and traditional Thai bodywork.
Enjoy my Stone of Light works of art. Consider them as an alternative to
the traditional urn or burial. Ashwork honors the earth and all her relations in the circle of life. It is vital we restore
balance to the planet and conserve our natural resources for future generations.
