Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Prescott's 'Spot' for folk art

The paintings of Virgil Spot Daniel started almost as a joke. Today, he spends as much time as he likes at a past time thats become a source of income and put art from the Prescott native in galleries around the world.

At 86, Spot - as hes known to most - says hes completely self-taught and claims to have no talent at all.

Daniel said he first became acquainted with folk art years ago when he was on an errand for a friend. Daniel said his wifes sister lived in Alabama. A Prescott physician knew the couple planned a visit to her sister and asked them to pick up some folk art from Mose Tolliver - a folk artist in Alabama.

As Daniel tells it, his wife found a small painting for $15 - the least expensive offering she could locate - and bought it.

I said, Dr. Portis is not going to be happy with you, Daniel recalled.

As it turned out, the only complaint from the doctor was that they hadnt brought back more of the paintings. He predicted that piece of art was actually worth much more to collectors in New Orleans, La.

He was right, Daniel said. I said, Whoop! Ive been in the wrong business.

Daniel said he picked up a paintbrush and looked around for something to paint on. That was the beginning of a new career.

The painting medium and the surface for painting are as varied as are the subjects of his drawings. Daniel said his inspiration comes from an array of places - including famous art. Sometimes, a particular item catches his attention. A piece of a tree stump becomes a series of faces and Daniel adds small stones and a bit of paint to make the faces come alive.

Bowling balls, paint lids, cardboard, lawn furniture, trailers and even the building that houses his gallery can become a canvas. Daniel said that hell paint on anything, as long as it stands still long enough.

I paint on everything, Daniel said. I painted on two terrapins yesterday.

From the air, Daniels gallery is easy to locate. After all, hes painted on the roof just in case someone flies over.

The paint is often leftover housepaint or bottled craft paint, but may be something even less traditional. Tar becomes a black Razorback pig, for example. He also uses sand, varnish and anything else that catches his interest.

Daniel said his big break came when someone saw the art hed painted on the side of a van. Someone visiting Prescott saw the van, picked up some of Daniels pieces for a gallery and Daniel wound up as a chapter in an art book.

Daniel calls himself an oustide artist. He said he believes that to be a person who has no formal training. Hes been featured in print and television and said he seeks to express personality with his caricatures.

I dont paint pretty pictures, he said.

Nonetheless, theres plenty of demand for the folk art he creates and he said hed rather paint than play golf.

Daniel is a retired Prescott businessman. The van that began his notoriety was used in his moving business. He and his wife, Evelyn, have two children, Eddie and Donna, and two grandchildren.

Daniel said both his wife and his daughter also paint.

Daniel apparently had freckles when he was a child. He said people called him Speck. It was later changed to Spot. Today, he uses the nickname for signing his paintings. A capital D with a dot - or a spot, if you will - in the center is his trademark.

For Daniel, painting means that hes always got something to do. The fact that people want his creations is a positive benefit.

I dont have any talent, he said. I just paint.