It will be three years this week since our dad died. November 25th, 7:55 PST.
I’ll be posting photos this week to honor his memory. Love you dad.
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I love you so much dad and think of you each and every day since you’ve been gone. Your love is still with us, convincing me of the power of love to transcend death. Love from your daughter Daisy, son-in-law Patrick and adoring grandchildren Ruby and Jesse. You are dearly missed on this day and every single day of our lives.
Visit this link to view some beautiful old photos of Dan and his family:
http://storrconsulting.com/dmcg/Dan%20Slideshow.pdfdan20slideshow
Trees in Pescadero, Watercolor and Gouache Painting, Daniel McGowan
Dan McGowan supported his large family for many years as a commercial artist, in the time when it was all done by hand. For over 30 years, he created beautiful art for advertisements and products such as Celestial Seasonings Tea boxes, Goodyear Tires, and many many more. He primarily worked with Airbrush, Pen & Ink, Gouache, and Scratchboard.
Later in life, when the world of commercial art had turned largely to computers, Dan decided to pursue his lifelong interest in Oil Painting. He spent many years working on his technique, but it was difficult to find time to paint when he was home in Seattle. The demands of so many things pressed on him, and as most artists know, a blank canvas can be a lot harder to tackle then a sinkful of dishes or a yard full of plants to care for!
So, when he traveled to a small fishing village in Mexico starting about 13 years ago, he found the long stretches of uninterrupted time he needed to paint. He also found the light that was sorely lacking in Seattle most of the year, the light he loved and talked about in reverential tones. Spending two months in Mexico each year, in the heart of winter, filled up his artist’s soul.
Dan was generous with his talents. While in Mexico each year, he would give lessons to all the local children (and sometimes adults) that asked. All he asked in exchange was that they sit for him to draw their portraits.
My dad talked to me about exhibiting his work, something he always wanted to do but had difficulty pulling together. As he got sick, it became harder and he focused on what he really loved–painting. The act of painting, of looking at the light and the scenery, was pure joy and meditation. It was when he was truly happiest.
Pescadero, Mexico. Watercolor and Gouache Painting by Daniel McGowan
Still Life (Mexico), Oil Painting, Daniel McGowan
Fisherman's Beach in El Pescadero, Watercolor Painting, Daniel McGowan
Still Life with Lemons (Mexico), Oil Painting, Daniel McGowan
House in El Pescadero, Watercolor Painting, Daniel McGowan
Still Life (Mexico), Oil Painting, Daniel McGowan
Baja Scene with Lighthouse, Watercolor and Gouache Painting, Daniel McGowan
- View of Mountains in Baja, Watercolor and Gouache Painting, Daniel P. McGowan
Dan’s sister Michelle put together this slideshow of his paintings, click on this link to see them:
| Daniel Patrick McGowan | ||
| Daniel Patrick McGOWAN Passed away on 11/24/2008 in Seattle, Washington. He was born on 11/08/1946 in Glendale, California and lived for some time in Italy and Colorado, but has been a resident of Seattle for the past 30 years and also spent many years visiting Mexico annually where he has many friends and loved ones. Dan was a spiritual, artistic and loving man and a beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. He will be deeply missed. Dan is survived by his loving wife Anne, siblings Rory, Michelle, and Scott; children Nathaniel, Rose, Daisy, Eva, Viola, James, and Rebecca Anne; stepchildren, Trisha, Brent and Amy; and 7 beloved grandchildren. Please visit our memorial website and leave stories and thoughts of Dan at http://inmemoryofdanielmcgowan.wordpress.com/I feel like such an amazing life cannot be summed up in one paragraph. Please add what you would like to see in his obituary to the comment field, and I will add it on to the body of the post. | ||
Here is a piece written by Dan’s sister, Rory McGowan:
How do I talk about my brother Danny? He was the head of our family since our dad passed which has been a long time. I guess he will continue to be in many ways. He leaves behind so many wonderful kids and a huge body of his life’s work. He was born to draw, paint, and create with his hands.
When he was a kid his comic strips and cartoons made us go nuts with laughter. Thank God we had that laughter. He could turn any situation into the ridiculous and humorous. Gosh could he draw. Always won all those school drawing things.
As a young dude in the 60’s and 70’s he produced stunning rock concert posters and other great psychedelic work. They were really amazing.
He moved to Italy and to support his family he became a prolific and highly adaptable artist as he needed to get any work he could. Out of this time he did such great work. Gorgeous rococo inspired panettone boxes (Italian christmas bread), beautiful and famous packaging for Perugina Chocolates. He did work for leather companies, car companies, book companies, clothing and tons of others. All fabulous. I showed this artwork to all of my friends. I was so proud of him. I never knew anyone could do all this.
When he moved back to America he continued to produce incredible art for Celestial Seasonings Tea Co. (the original boxes), Disney Studios, Nintendo and much much more. His signature airbrush style was unmistakably cool. I loved his art deco spaceships.
Whether it was books full of his charming sketches or his larger than life awesome murals, all of his work drew you in and lifted you up. He wanted to lift people up. Art was his constant for work, play and spiritual expression.
Danny was so very humble about about his artwork. I witnessed a lifetime of his immense contribution to beauty and humour. He was the greatest artist I have ever known.
To my dear, sentimental brother
Rest in PeaceLove, Rory
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- Danny Boy, 10 years old
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- Daniel Patrick McGowan, High School Grad Picture
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- L-R: Scott, Danny, Jimmy
Bassetto in Snow
I think this one of my favorite pictures of your dad and I. We are out behind the villa at Bassetto (Certaldo, Italy). We were having a great time. You know how snapshots capture a turning of your head, whatever, and don’t always match how you see yourself or others. This photo is exactly what we looked like and how we all were.
Photo and text courtesy my dear mom, Terri
While I look for pictures of us kids with dad as babies, toddlers, and kids, I’ll post these of him with some of his grandchildren: Amiyah, Jesse and Ruby
1 Corinthians 13
Love
1If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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- James and Dad at his Wedding
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- Jimmy’s Wedding
Among the many gifts that our dad gave to us and everyone who knew him was his laughter. He loved to laugh, did so easily and loudly, and made all of us laugh harder than anyone we know. He was a fan of puns, corny jokes, colorful characters, wacky stories, and the foibles of the human condition. I can still hear his hyena-like laugh in my head, I wish I could have bottled it and kept it for those times when all seems dark and despairing.
Dad in a
