Hi WhiteNite,
What are the chances that the art and signature on your note is this person?
?
Daniel Van Klei is a respected Canadian painter and international award-winning photographer known for his abstract landscape artwork. His work is not associated with the official design of Canadian currency; the signature on the note you provided is a personal addition.
Biography and Background
Birthplace and Education: Born in Chilliwack, British Columbia, Van Klei graduated from Simon Fraser University in 1997 with a B.A. and a B.Ed., both in Visual Art.
Influences: Growing up in rural B.C. and traveling extensively in vehicles shaped his early perceptions of the shifting landscape. He later earned a private pilot's license, which further developed his abstract perspective of the earth from above.
Artistic Philosophy: He values the unknown and questions where one is going, with a belief that there are no coincidences. He has been quoted as saying, "One mark on a canvas determines where the next one will go".
Art Style and Work
Style: Van Klei's work tends toward ambiguity and abstraction, often using tangible yet elusive elements like wind or water as a base.
Subjects: He frequently focuses on trees and landscapes, exploring the complex geometry and structure of branches, especially during winter and spring when the leaves are shed.
Medium: He primarily works with acrylic paint, sometimes incorporating mixed media such as gold leaf, copper leaf, or even Canadian currency onto the canvas.
Collections and Exhibitions
Exhibitions: His paintings and photography have been exhibited across Canada and in the United States.
Notable Collections: His artwork is held in various corporate, government, and private collections worldwide, including those of the Government of Canada, McMaster University, the Shanghai World Financial Centre in China, and Cheryl Bernard (2010 Olympic silver medalist).
Gallery Representation: He is represented by galleries such as the Harbour Gallery in Mississauga, Ontario, and the Elliott Louis Gallery in Vancouver, British Columbia.
