Background:
As a child I always wanted .to paint. but my family could not afford to send me to art school. I was unable to follow my dream at that time, However that did not stop me from painting in my self taught style. To make ends meet, I began my career in hair styling. I still had a passion to paint.

For thirty years I styled the hair oft many famous and not so famous people. It all came loan end when my cancer appeared. I was told I had 6 months to live. Laying in a hospital bed an angel appeared in my dreams and asked me “What do you love most in life?” I told the angel that I love to paint but I don’t know how. He said “I will help you.’ The angel was Raphael, the angel of the artists.

With my now found encouragement I began to draw healthy bodies. My cancer soon went into remission. But I was still very sick and didn’t know why. Then I was diagnosed with Sjrogen’s Syndrome and became paralyzed from the waist. down. My angel came back and said “Paint.” So, I began to paint even though I was in a wheel chair; the lessons went on. I painted people who had suffered one way or the other in life. More and more paintings appeared.

Then one night little angels came to me - they went inside my body and came out. As a result of that I now walk with a cane and I continue to paint. My angel told me to draw as if I were Picasso “move your arm like Picasso.” I began to work in the styles of Andy Warhol, David Hockney and Botticcelli.

For thirty years I looked in a minor at people and did their hair. Now I look at my canvasses and see some of those people staring back at me. I’m doing things now that I could lever do before. Thanks to my angel Raphael, the lessons go on.

A recent showing was at the Artspace Gallery in Richmond, Virginia

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I have always believed that art should he a pleasure. There is always, everywhere, an enormous amount of suffering, but I believe that my duly as an artist is to overcome and alleviate the sterility of despair. New ways of seeing mean new ways of feeling. I do believe that painting can change the world.

Daniel Paige