Featured Artist: Daniel Castaneda
I was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. My primary artistic influence as a child began with my uncle, Gerard Cantú, who got me interested in drawing from comic books – which was probably the only way to hold my attention. I took my first formal art class in the 6th grade, and my interest and participation continued through high school. I graduated from The University of Texas at Austin in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art and married Yvonne Garza in 2003.
While at UT-Austin pursuing an electrical engineering major, I decided to switch to studio art after a couple of semesters. I took classes in painting, ceramics, and printmaking. Wanting to expand and enhance my drawing ability, I discovered the enjoyment in working with watercolors. Later, I took a seriously profound interest in nonferrous sculpture/jewelry, and earned the Burdine Anderson Giese Endowed Scholarship.
It was only several years ago that I added leatherworking to my art repertoire. Thanks to Dennis Guerra, Jim Ford, Wayne Decker, and George Hurst, who introduced me to the leatherworking craft, and continue to help me further my abilities and knowledge of the seemingly endless possibilities of leather.
Contact Information:
Daniel Castaneda
DFC Studios
Austin, Texas
(512) 653-2618
http://www.dfcstudios.com
