December 8, 1970, gail, a fifth generation Kentuckian, was named, by Louie B Nunn, Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels as one of "Kentucky's ambassadors of good will and fellowship around the world".

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gail painting in the Mayan market of Comalapa, Guatemala, Central America.
February 2008 during the 'Explore Guatemala' Workshop.
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gail at the 2004 'Ghost Ranch Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreat' Abiquiu, New Mexico.
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gail hopes to bring people a deeper appreciation of the balance of nature and beauty that is all around them and of art and artists in general. One way she does this is by actually painting during a show or sale when permissible. It generates interest and educates the public.

 



By invitation, gail is an Associate Member of the Winsor & Newton Creative Artist Network. This international network of artists is sponsored by Winsor & Newton of London, England, manufacturers of the finest artists materials in the world since 1832.

gail, a recognized, accomplished, award-winning watercolor artist, has become internationally known by virtue of her teaching. Beginning to advanced watercolorists are drawn to her classes because of her abilities. Those include teaching techniques, an unselfish sharing of herself and talents, nurturing ways, patience, and because of the so many successes that a whole host of her students have achieved. gail teaches three, three hour classes, limit 20 students per class, each week. She has a core of students who have studied with her for years.

  • Artists from 32 different states, including Alaska and Hawaii and also Canada and the Philippines have come to Workshops to study with gail. Attending a Workshop with gail exposes you to very interesting artists. Just being with them is itself a learning experience.
  • In addition to the U.S., gail has taught Watercolor Workshops in Canada, Europe and Central America.
  • Was a long time member of the faculty of Cheekwood-Botanical Garden & Museum of Art, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Is a judge of art shows from the local level to state wide
  • Consultant to artists in other mediums on issues of composition, value, technique, subject and style
  • Winsor & Newton watercolor product instructor at Plaza Art Supply Store, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Commissioned work from California to Europe, including Governor Louie B. Nunn of Kentucky
  • Award winner in 14 juried exhibitIons
  • September 13-20 and 20-27, 2009, gail will teach two, six-day, back-to-back Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreats on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, NM. These will be her tenth and eleventh Watercolor Workshops to teach on Ghost Ranch.
  • September 7-14 and 14-21, 2008, gail will teach two, six-day, back-to-back Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreats on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico.
  • April 30-May 4, 2008 gail has been invited by the producers of “Blue Ridge Watercolor Workshop in Virginia” to teach a four day workshop in Sperryville, VA.
  • February 27, 2008, the NBC affiliate, WSMV-TV featured gail during a news show.
  • February 20, 2008, the CBS affiliate, WTVF-TV featured gail during a news show.
  • February 4-13, 2008 gail was invited by the producers of “Explore Guatemala”, to teach a Watercolor Workshop in Guatemala, Central America.
  • January 19, 2008, the NBC affiliate, WSMV-TV featured gail during a news show.
  • January 19, 2008, Tennessee State Jack Johnson presented gail with a ‘State of Tennessee Proclamation’ from the Senate honoring gail for her work in raising funds for the arts programs of the public schools of Davidson and Williamson Counties.
  • January 19, 2008, through its first seven years of existence, the 'Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent and Live Auction‘ and 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award’ have raised $53,033.00. That same $53,033.00 was awarded to visual arts teachers in the public schools of Davidson and Williamson Counties, Tennessee and PENCIL Foundation. The money was used for the purchase of badly needed visual art supplies. The money is awarded based on written grant applications. gail is very proud of the fact that every dime that has been raised, has been awarded.
  • January 19, 2008, $17,015.00 was raised by the ‘8th Annual Watercolor Artist Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent & Live Auction’ and ‘The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award’. These funds were used to buy badly needed visual art supplies for public school children. $11,517.00 of the funds were distributed, based on written grant applications, to 18 winning art teachers in the public schools of Williamson and Davidson Counties, Tennessee. $5,498.00 was donated to the PENCIL Foundation’s LP PENCIL Box, a supply store that provides free art supplies to area schools. Much appreciated leadership for this project came from the PENCIL Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee and BancorpSouth Bank, Brentwood, Tennessee.
  • January 2008, gail was appointed by the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce, Brentwood, TN as an Ambassador.
  • September 9-16 and 16-23, 2007, gail taught two, six-day, back-to-back Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreats on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico.
  • As of February 21, 2007, gail's seven 'Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent and Live Auction' and Cash donations from businesses, foundations and individuals have raised a total of $36,018.00 to promote the visual arts in Middle Tennessee. These funds were awarded through 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel' award.
  • The '7th Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent and Live Auction', January 27, 2007 raised $18,127.00. These funds, raised by gail's students and friends, were awarded through 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award'. The funds were used to buy badly needed visual art supplies. $11,289 of funds was distributed, based on written grant applications, to winning art teachers in public schools from Williamson and Davidson Counties. $6,838 was donated to the PENCIL Foundation's LP PENCIL Box, a supply store that provides free art supplies to area schools. Much appreciated leadership for this project came from the PENCIL Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee and BancorpSouth Bank, Brentwood, Tennessee.
  • November 2006, art education to England and Spain. This was gail's fifth art education trip to Europe since 1994. She has also studied in France, Italy and Switzerland.
  • September 24-30, 2006, Gabriola Island and October 1-7, 2006, Vancouver Island, British Colombia, Canada, gail was invited by local artists to teach two back-to-back workshops at resorts on those islands.
  • April 23-30 and April 30-May 7, 2006 gail taught two, six-day, back-to-back Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreats on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico
  • As of February 22, 2006, gail's six 'Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Live Auction' have raised a total of $17,213.50 to promote the visual arts in Middle Tennessee. These funds were awarded through 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award'.
  • February 22, 2006, gail was featured in a news story on WKRN-TV, News Channel 2, The ABC affiliate in Nashville, TN.
  • The '6th Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Live Auction', January 28, 2006 raised $7,640.00. These funds, raised by gail's students and friends, were awarded through 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award'. The funds were distributed, based on written grant applications, to winning art teachers in public schools from Williamson and Davidson Counties. The funds were used to buy badly needed art supplies. Much appreciated leadership for this project came from the PENCIL Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee and BancorpSouth Bank, Brentwood, Tennessee.
  • December 15, 2005, gail received the "2005 Chamber Spotlight" award. The plaque reads: "The spotlight shines on you with gratitude for the commitment you have made to the Brentwood Chamber".
  • July 2005 gail was commissioned by the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce, Brentwood, TN, to create the artwork celebrating the Chambers 50th anniversary. This commemorative painting was reproduced as a poster.
  • April 4-8, 2005 by invitation of a local art group gail taught a workshop in Albuquerque, New Mexico
  • March 30, 2005, A Little Night of Music, PENCIL Foundation, Nashville, painted an original watercolor painting for the theme poster and invitation cover for this fundraiser held at the Country Music Hall of Fame with LeAnn Rimes as the headliner.
  • The "5th Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Auction", January 29, 2005 raised $3,550.00. These funds, raised by gail's students, were awarded, based on written grant applications, to winning art teachers in the public schools from the area. The funds were used to buy badly needed art supplies. Much appreciated leadership for this project came from the PENCIL Foundation, Nashville, Tennessee and BancorpSouth Bank, Brentwood, Tennessee.
  • September 12-19 and 19-26, 2004, gail taught two, six-day, back-to-back Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreats on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico.
  • Invited by O'More College of Design, Franklin, Tennessee, to present a Watercolor Workshop, July 24, 2004
  • June 12, 2004, the $4,000.00 'Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award' was presented at the 29th Bi-annual Tennessee Watercolor Society Show to Laurin McCracken of Memphis, TN, at a ceremony in Jackson, TN. This $4,000.00 Award was funded from the proceeds of the 2003 and 2004 'Blahs Parties'.
  • 2004, January - The "4th Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent & Live Auction" raised $2,225.00.
  • The Directors of Art in Provence invited gail to present a Watercolor Workshop Extravaganza in Dieulefit, France, June 26th to July 7th 2003
  • One-person show of paintings at the Office of Tennessee'e 7th District Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Cannon Office Building, Washington, D.C. March thru June 2003
  • January 2003, The 3rd Annual "Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent & Live Auction', raised $2,000.00. This $2,000.00 was added to the money raised during the 2004 'Blahs Party' for 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award'.
  • September 16-22, 2002, gail taught a five day Watercolor Adventure Workshop Retreat on Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico.
  • Invited by the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, one of only eight remaining Chautauqua type assemblies in the U.S. to present a Watercolor Workshop at their 121st annual assembly, July 27th to August 2nd, 2002
  • June 15, 2002, the 'Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel Award', in the amount of $1,825.00 was presented to Helen Burton of Cleveland, at the 28th Bi-annual Tennessee Watercolor Society Show, during a ceremony at Chattanooga, Tennessee.
  • Invited by the Cheekwood Education Department to present a Watercolor Workhop, April 26th - 28th, 2002
  • 2002, The Emperor's Ball, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky, painted an original watercolor painting for the theme poster and invitation cover for their fundraiser
  • Cheekwood Education Department Advisory Committee for the years 2002-2004
  • January 2002, gail was honored by the establishment of 'The Students and Friends of gail Mcdaniel'. The 2nd 'Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent & Live Auction' raised $1,825.00.
  • October 15-19, 2001, gail taught a five day Watercolor Adventure Workshop at The Historic Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, Colorado.
  • Developed a one day seminar on "Color: Theory and Application," which was presented as a part of a three day workshop for the TENNESSEE WATERCOLOR SOCIETY July, 2001
  • January 2001, the first 'Chase away the blahs' party, which later became the, 'Annual Watercolor Artists Chase-Away-The-Blahs-Party-Artistically Potluck and Fund Raiser Silent & Live Auction', $675.00 was raised. This party is now often referred to simply as 'The Blahs Party'. The proceeds were used to buy children's books, which contained watercolor illustrations. The books were donated to the library of the Brentwood United Methodist Church, Brentwood, TN.
  • 2000 gail became a member of the faculty Cheekwood Education Department
  • 2000 "Coming Home" poster for the 50th anniversary celebration of the establishment of Caverna High School, Cave City, Kentucky. Proceeds to benefit the school scholarship fund
  • 1999 Sold 55 pieces of original artwork
  • 1999-2000 Painted artwork for the annual NASHVILLE SCENE N-FOCUS Social Calendar
  • 1999 Commissioned to paint 18 paintings, which are on permanent display in the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, Williamson County, Tennessee
  • 1999 Cover for the Report to the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, from the Tennessee HIV Prevention Committee
  • 1998 Logo Theme Poster for the Franklin Tennessee Lions Club Celebration of "Franklin on the Fourth"
  • May 1998 gail added to her knowledge of pigments. gail traveled to England to see and discuss pigments and their production with Winsor & Newton. She understands the properties of paint and what they can and cannot do.
  • 1997 Logo Theme Poster for the Franklin Tennessee Lions Club Celebration of "Franklin on the Fourth"
  • 1997 Theme Poster for the 43rd Italian Street Fair, Nashville, Tennessee. Only the second time in the Street Fair's history that the same artist has done the Theme Poster two years in a row
  • 1996 Theme Poster for the 42nd annual Italian Street Fair
  • Member of the Arts Council of Williamson County, Executive Board Member and Second Vice President for Membership.
  • Member of the Tennessee Watercolor Society and past board member
  • Member of the Kentucky Watercolor Society
  • Member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America
  • Member of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts
  • Member of the Gibson County Visual Arts Association

 

My Credo: Teaching for Lifelong Learning and Growing

To all those I teach, either individually or as a group, I am both a teacher and a facilitator. I must help each student to be always learning and growing. As a teacher, I share with each student all I know about putting watercolor paint to paper. I hold nothing back. I demonstrate every technique, shortcut, process, idea or concept I have developed or learned by doing, reading or studying with others.

As a facilitator, I encourage students to develop their own style and not to be a clone of me. I help my students to bring out the best that is within them. My purpose is to guide them to see who they are, what they have and what they can become. I want them to choose their own subject matter and to paint what excites them. It is important for all my students to have fun and enjoy themselves. They must develop artistically at their own speed. I will always challenge them to go a little further than they expect and to keep reaching a little past their grasp. My goal is to inspire them without making them feel overwhelmed.

I am happiest when my students become recognized artists in their own right. By taking what they want from me and adding to their own talents, abilities, work ethic and attitude, they can become more than I am. When that happens, I know I have succeeded. My joy and reward for what I do come from their artistic growth.

I will always remain true to my own task of learning and growing as an artist. This is the only way I can be the teacher and facilitator my students need. Only by continuing to develop myself can I continue to challenge, train and inspire my students.

  

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