Daniela Werneck is a Brazilian-born, Texas-based watercolor artist known for her realistic and highly detailed figurative paintings. A self-taught watercolorist, Werneck began devoting her life to her artwork full time in 2015. Since then, her work has been exhibited in national and international competitions and can be found in prestigious collections including Dick Blick Art Materials and the Bennett Collection, which features some of the best women artists working in figurative realism today.
Echoes of Porcelain, watercolor on Aquabord, 24 x 24 in.“I find beauty in quiet moments, small details and emotional depth. My work is rooted in realism but guided by imagination and storytelling,” says Werneck. Inspired by her Brazilian heritage and shaped by her many life experiences—including caring for children in foster care—the artist seeks to create paintings that evoke a sense of innocence, serenity and wonder.
Golden Reverie, watercolor on Aquabord, 20 x 16 in.
Serenity, watercolor on Aquabord, 20 x 20 in.
Serene Sense, watercolor on Aquabord, 8 x 16 in.
“I paint using photo references and often work with young models, allowing them to express themselves freely and naturally. Light plays a central role in my work; it brings warmth, softness and a divine quality that I’m constantly chasing,” she says. “I work with a limited color palette, usually no more than five colors, to keep harmony and focus across my pieces.”
Whispers of Light, watercolor on Aquabord, 16 x 8 in.
Serenity, depicting a young woman lounging in a chair, illustrates Werneck’s use of a limited palette. “The way those colors blended in the upper part of the background sometimes felt to me like a heavy sky, the kind that lingers after a distant storm, something that’s already passed,” she says. “There were moments while painting when the tiled wall didn’t feel like an interior space anymore. Instead, it started to look like an exterior, almost like a tiled fence with a moody sky above it. And then there’s the model, so relaxed, so calm, so beautiful, sitting under this soft, welcoming light. That light always felt divine to me, like something peaceful and sacred surrounding her.”
Home, painted almost entirely in shades of pale pink, is another excellent example.
Home, watercolor on Aquabord, 36 x 18 in.
The artist paints on Aquabord, which allows her to move, erase and sculpt the pigment throughout the painting process, resulting in artwork that feels fluid and intuitive.
“Painting is my form of meditation. I work in silence or listen to books and podcasts, getting lost in the detail of lace, fabric, skin, flowers and tile. Every element I include, whether a vintage dress, a kiskadee bird or a pattern of Portuguese tiles, carries meaning and memory,” Werneck says. “My goal is for each piece to feel like a quiet story, inviting viewers to pause, reflect and find their own connection.” —
Powered by Froala Editor
