Artist Statement

Biography: 

Born in Melbourne Australia in 1964 Daryl Millard took an early interest in art. He studied briefly at the Caulfield Institute, but was not interested in taking any painting classes. Daryl said “I didn’t want to be influenced.” Coming from a family of artists Daryl remembers his older brother’s wrath if anything appeared to be copied or commercial and didn’t show a chain of creativity back to its original idea. Daryl even remembers holidays at the beach seeing a secluded place to paint his first outdoor paintings. “As an 11 year old I had no concept of plein air painting, all I knew was that it was sure enjoyable being outdoors surrounded by beauty and painting it.” Finding some of these paintings 30 years later I can see a direct correlation between what I was seeing and selecting to paint and what I am painting now. With a love for the balmy tropics Daryl spent 4 months living and painting on a remote island in Fiji at the age of 18. He opened his first gallery in Melbourne at 21 “it was a huge success,” Daryl reflects. Playing lacrosse in an Australian team was his first exposure to the United States. He fell in love, got married and moved to California at 24. Daryl was well received and began carving out a name for himself. “Well actually I like my work to speak for me,” says Daryl. “You know that when someone can look at a painting and know who created it without reading the signature.”

Daryl now lives with his wife Vanessa, who helps him run the business and their 2 children in San Diego. His 17 year old son Micah helps with shipping his dad's art all over the states and his daughter Rose, “can paint as well as me if not better thank when I was 11,” states Daryl. These days Daryl splits his love of painting in California with Hawaii where they maintain a second home. His passion for color harmonies reflect in his work noting that this is one of the elements that makes him stand out as unique and recognizable. Sound composition also plays a big part in conveying warm emotions and a feel good factor in his work.

Daryl’s original paintings are sought after by serious collectors with many owning more than one: there are many collectors who have 6 to 12 paintings.