Artist Statement: The paintings in “My Creeks” reflect a fondness for creeks that has been with me since I was old enough to explore on my own. From an early age, several small, accessible creeks became places I visited repeatedly, allowing me to grow familiar with their rhythms and ecosystems over time.

More recently, recovery from surgery changed how I moved through these landscapes. While I could no longer ride my bike as much as I used to, slowing down led me off the trail and into closer exploration of the creeks along the Razorback Greenway in northwest Arkansas. Using my iPhone, I began taking hundreds of pictures—not just the creeks themselves, but of the surface of the creeks. I focused on submerged leaves, interlocking rocks, shifting reflections, and the subtle ways light bends through moving water.

These creeks also carry layered human histories—from Indigenous presence to early settlement and, more recently, development that has narrowed and constrained many waterways. Though altered, they continue to hold moments of resilience and beauty. This series is both a personal record of “my” creeks and an invitation to slow down, look closely, and recognize the value of these often-overlooked places.—Daniel, January 2026

Learn more about my inspiration for this series in The Story Behind the paintings in "My Creeks."

View these paintings in person at Cantrell Gallery in Little Rock.