Daniel F. Walthall

mementos mori means always remember the freshmaker

an abstract casein painting, depicting seven flower-like forms, some stairway shaped silhouettes, a curvy snake, and the side profile of a person or statue that has a mostly featureless face that resembles weathered stone.

The Baker at the Stairway, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein paint on canvas panel, 18" x 24"
#art #painting #abstract

An abstract painting of a large purple and gray form, that looks tattered, but highlighted a bit with a golden orange color at the top. Below, and behind the tattered form is a bright orange form that resembles a glint of orange-yellow light, or a strange sunrise on a tilted horizon, or a golden explosion of energy.

Dream Sans Hopes, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein paint on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #abstract

An abstract landscape painting of a narrow valley that has three huge flowers within it. The main colors are a reddish-purple, with a golden yellow for the sky.

Valley of Possibility, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein paint on canvas panel, 9" x 12"
#art #painting

PREQUEL is here! a tale of heroic last stands and legacy.

I had the pleasure of illustrating the cover for this, in embroidered banner style!

#ttrpg #art

A semi-abstract casein painting depicting part of a skull, many textures and deep purple shadows, and three blue and rose-red flowers.

Lost in the Garden, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein paint on canvas panel, 9" x 12"
#art #painting #abstract

I just realized that I totally forgot to put the really small paintings (5" x 7", and 6" x 6" canvas panels) in these photos, so this is actually about 65 paintings or so, lol!

A casein painting in a horizontal format (rare for the artist, who typically prefers the vertical/portrait format for painting), depicting an abstract/impressionist style flower that takes up the majority of the painting, and is placed in the center. The flower is mostly an orange color, but about a third of the flower, and a large shadow/form below it, are a de-saturated blue. Around the large flower are many bits of greenery that resemble hanging vines or green tattered cloth. Near the right side of the painting is a large gray stripe of color going from the top of the canvas to the bottom.

Amber Flower / Her Love Made me Glow, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #flower #abstract

omg, wow, thank you so much!!!

A casein painting in a horizontal format (rare for the artist, who typically prefers the vertical/portrait format for painting), depicting an abstract/impressionist style flower that takes up the majority of the painting, and is placed in the center. Above, and a bit below, are abstract green forms resembling leaves or vines.

Golden Flower / His Love Gave me Hope, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #flower

Finally, I want to say if you were ever discouraged from making/doing art, by someone else, or by your own self-doubts: fuck that, everyone can be creative (can you see shapes in the clouds? fav colors? fav outfits? that's creative choices baby!), so whatever artform you enjoy, do it for yourself!!

I don't recommend painting purely from your imagination when you are new, unless it's comfortable and fun for you

but after doing over 2,500 pieces of art in my life (rough estimate), I really enjoy just painting purely from my imagination now, no references except the visual memories in my head

FINALLY this year I've become very confident with painting, and instead of painting hills, trees, and old barns (which was fun), I'm painting my heart onto the canvas, my emotions, and when I am not sure what to paint I just paint whatever "shapes in the clouds" that I see in my first layer of paint

years ago I found my confidence with drawing, I became really confident in it, but I think I STILL assumed I wasn't good enough to make a living from it

because I always priced myself really low, and mostly just did some stock art, and hardly ever tried to sell original art

man.. fuck self-doubt

and all of that after growing up with adults, and even my peers, telling me so often "wow, you can draw so good!!" so I had plenty of encouragement

my heart breaks for people who get the opposite of encouragement, because we ALL can be creative!

anyway, for decades I still had too much self-doubt!

after I graduated from high school, I did drawings sometimes, but hardly ever painted, for at least a decade

and all together I spent about 25 years not trying very hard to be a full-time artist, not being particularly good at holding a regular job either, and slowly becoming more depressed

I have no idea how successful they were, I made my assumptions just based on the art I saw, and the prices they were asking

I know it was foolish to assume so much, but I was young and dumb

and I decided that day that I would have to get a regular job, and make art just as a hobby

I wasn't passionate about art for the money, that was my lowest priority. But I was old enough to understand that if I wanted to make art my job, I would have to be really good and sell a lot of art

and these artists were practically giving paintings away

how could they be making a living?

but as we walked around, looking at all the artwork, my heart started to sink

I assumed they were all very skilled painters, and I wasn't necessarily blown away by the paintings I saw, but they seemed decent enough to me

but the prices were rock-bottom, I can't recall specifics, but WAY low

also I had low self-esteem back then, and it's better now, but I still struggle with it

anyway, I remember that day at the art show/festival. I can still see it in my mind. It was outdoors, during the day, and there were a bunch of artists there, selling paintings

at first I was thrilled!

at that point in my life, I was already feeling confident in drawing, and partially confident in painting. People had been telling me I was good at art for many years, and it is my biggest passion

but I had been hearing the term "starving artist" my whole life, and was afraid of becoming one

I've realized that small events can have a huge impact on me sometimes

for example when I was a teenager, my Dad took me to an outdoor art sale/festival because I was extremely passionate about art

I never told him this, but that was a turning point for me, and not in a good way sadly

A vibrant casein painting of abstract forms that resemble ruins or towers of stone, with a large slanted form closer to the viewer that has a shadow below it and stretching into the foreground. The sky is alive with golden yellow and coral red, like a hazy sunset, or perhaps a sky f flames. In the sky is a faint blue crescent moon.

In the Ruins with the Shadow, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #abstract

A bright abstract casein painting with a pale coral background color, a large yellow crescent moon, and a vaguely spire-shaped abstract form in the center.

City of the Future, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #abstract

A bright abstract casein painting with a pale coral background color, a large yellow crescent moon, and a vaguely spire-shaped abstract form in the center.

City of the Future, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting #abstract

An abstract casein painting depicting four birdhouse-like forms above a diagonal rift of pale blue. Below the rift are patches of color and wavy lines, and also a small crescent moon.

Rift and Slowfall, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 8" x 10"
#art #painting #abstract

An abstract casein painting of a narrow path between two deep blue forms. The path is brighter than the foreground, rendered in gold, coral, pink, and blue. A stylized blue crescent moon floats in the pink sky.

Dream of the City Moon, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein on canvas panel, 5" x 7"
#art #painting #abstract

A colorful semi-abstract casein painting depicting a large heart above a blue skull, and an abstract red flower with several petals falling off of it.

Dazzleheart / Pieces of Me, 2025

by Daniel F. Walthall
casein paint on canvas panel, 16" x 20"
#art #painting