"Cheniere Sunrise" by Jim McDaniel

Jim McDaniel of Monroe, Louisiana, is the Ouachita River Art Gallery's January Artist-of-the-Month. Years ago, Jim's wife Brenda encouraged him to pick up a brush and paint. He did, and he surprised himself with not only how much he enjoyed it but also how good his first painting was. Jim's been painting ever since. He has taken painting lessons from the late Carol Kennedy and workshops with Margaret Ellerman and Cory Carlson. Jim works primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas. Most of his work is from photographs taken while he and his wife traveled the U.S., Europe, and South America. His favorite subjects are cars and Louisiana scenes. Jim retired after thirty years in the automotive business. He says "I continue to paint in order to stay busy and productive."