Featured Artist: Daniel McQuestion
by Charles Spillar on Feb.10, 2010, under Tucson Art, arts
Deinonychus Dinosaur by Dan McQuestion at Tucson Convention Center
“So real it looks alive!” is the best way to describe Dan McQuestion’s sculptures. The first time I viewed his art I assumed he was a taxidermist as each piece in the gallery appeared so real and in perfect dimension to a live bird existing in the wild. I was surprised to find they were sculptures created out of aluminum!
McQuestion And A Sculpted Bald Eagle
As you will see from viewing his sculptures below, he has a talent few have in the world today. Using a metal sculpture technique he invented, Daniel has currently sculpted birds representing over 250 species from six continents…all life size. His accomplishments include rare birds such as the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers and a mated pair of Juan Fernandez Fire-crowned Hummingbirds with a full compliment of individually cut feathers.
 |  |  |
It was a natural evolution for Daniel to take a creative leap back in time and apply his artistic genius to the creation of feathered dinosaurs… the ancestors of birds. His newest sculpture is a life size re-creation of a feathered dinosaur, the Deinonychus. Pronounced (die-non-i-kuss).
The Deinonchus and the Toodon (created last year) were two ancient dinosaurs known to have feathers. Like his anatomically perfect bird creations these two creatures appear as real as if they were alive today.
This new Deinonchus creation can now be seen at the Tucson Convention Center. His Troodon dinosaur was exhibited at the TCC Gem and Mineral Show last year to overwhelming appreciation.
Daniel McQuestion and his Toodon Sculpture
Daniel is not only a self taught ornithologist and an artist, he is also an inventor and a pioneer. When he tried aluminum as an art medium, it was like Columbus’ discovering the New World and in his heart he knew he had found his answer to create his passion.
After years of experimenting he developed a technique that exactly fits the purpose he originally intended. If you look closely at his birds you will see that each feather is hand cut and created to look exactly like the natural creature.
His sculptures are in museums and private collections around the world, including the National Park Service and Saudi Arabian Prince collections. Daniel’s ultimate goal is to have a museum of his own housing a large collection of his artwork. Since many of the creations he has sculpted are now extinct this would be a great venue to educate children and adults.
I highly recommend you view his latest artwork at the Tucson Convention Center (located in the lobby) and know you will not be disappointed. This portion of the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show at the Tucson Convention Center opens Thursday February 11-13 (10am-6pm) and closes February 14(10am-5pm).
Some of his other sculptures can be seen at The Tucson Sculpture Fest 2010 located at the Sculpture Resource Center February 6-13 (10am-6pm).
640 N. Stone Ave., Tucson, Arizona 85705
More photos and information can be found at his website < http://www.dmcquestion.com> and he can be contacted at: daniel@mcquestion.com
Article copyright Charles Spillar 2010
February 10th, 2010 on 3:09 pm
As always, I love your articles! Daniel McQuestions’s aluminum sculptures are amazing. Wish I could be there to see his work in person.
February 10th, 2010 on 7:37 pm
Daniel’s work is magnificent! I enjoyed browsing through his website and seeing the extensive variety of bird sculptures, panel murals and paintings. How he interprets his knowledge of ornithology into exquisitely crafted works of art is an amazing accomplishment. I particularly liked the installed pieces such as the Red Tailed Hawk and the Eagle, which were in full flight. They look incredibly life-like. Each work is very unique.
February 13th, 2010 on 11:18 am
I am a huge fan of Daniel’s art and have followed his work for years. This new turn is awe inspiring, the things he can do with metal never ceases to amaze me. I have collected several of his pieces and wish I had the room for one of the new ones. These dinosaurs really bring prehistoric life into perspective. I just love his new direction.