DARRYL GOLDMAN – Cover Artist

By Emma Taylor

Many artists grow up immersed in creativity. It’s as though they emerged from the palette like Aphrodite from the sea — newborn and nude, dripping in colors they were destined to wield. Their path to practice seemingly logical, even inherent. But each artist has a different origin story, and Darryl Goldman’s discovery of his talents came a bit later than most.

Goldman had a conservative upbringing in Meridian, Mississippi, and dreamed of becoming a minister from an early age. He doesn’t remember coloring or drawing as a toddler. He wasn’t gallivanting to the salvage yard with his upcycling uncle to gather pieces for his latest installation.

In fact, Goldman didn’t discover he could draw until primary school. “Most kids grow up drawing and coloring, I guess. I saw my first box of colors when I was in first grade. I was fascinated that you could have things that could make drawings like that,” he said fondly of his artistic introduction.

Pure chance led Goldman to attend a private art lesson with a friend in the second grade. He was delighted by the bright colors splashing across a woodblock as he painted the teacher’s parakeet.

Invigorated by his newfound outlet for expression, the young Goldman proudly rushed his creation home. His mother was so surprised by his unearthed affinity that she initially didn’t believe he was the artist. She called the teacher to confirm, and promptly agreed to begin giving him one dollar a week to attend lessons.

But despite not going directly from womb to easel — like many seem to, or at least claim to have done — Goldman is an artist. But not just an artist. His entire life and career have been as vibrant and colorful as his paintings.

True to his childhood aspirations, Goldman became a faith leader. He worked as a U.S. Army chaplain during his time in the service and celebrated his 50th anniversary as an ordained minister this year. He and his wife of 55 years, Linda, both enjoyed long careers in the U.S. Army. Art remained mostly a hobby for Goldman until his retirement from the military.

He’s jumped out of airplanes with soldiers and comforted them by bedsides in hospitals, and he’s traveled to and lived in various places. He and Linda even managed to keep their marriage strong while spending three years traveling in a motorhome together in retirement — an undertaking that most married people will
recognize as no small feat.

Goldman hasn’t practiced art every day of his life, but he’s found a way to maintain his appreciation for, and study of it, even when he felt his primary focus was called elsewhere.

“My wife and I were at the Pentagon together for about five years. She was in civil service, and I was a chaplain there. When we had the opportunity, we’d go out and look at artists’ work and visit exhibits. I knew I needed to get back into it,” Goldman said of creativity’s steadfast presence.

If collecting experiences, developing relationships, and offering ample passion to various callings are methods of indirectly strengthening one’s creative muscles, then Goldman has been doing heavy lifting for years — brush in hand or not.

The Goldmans were transferred to Texas after their time in D.C., and he was promoted to colonel. But shortly after receiving his new title, he made the choice to leave the service and go back to being a civilian minister. “I decided I wanted to do other things, as well as get back into art. I became a senior pastor at some very large churches, and it gave me time to do some painting,” he said of the transition.

It was during this time that Goldman attended a workshop with the renowned oil painter TJ Cunningham. Cunningham provided Goldman with the knowledge and tools needed for a practice known as “plein air painting” or painting from life
outside. The method has become a hallmark of Goldman’s style.

Goldman’s spare time for painting became even more abundant a few years ago when he decided to retire from pastoring and he and his wife embarked on a multi-year journey to see the country.

“On the road was great because I had the opportunity to do a lot of outside painting. I spent a lot of time painting people’s houses, people’s dogs. I really enjoy that kind of thing. It’s sort of what I’m working on now, doing this series on downtown Bradenton. I enjoy capturing people and where they live,” Goldman said of his favored process and subject matter.

It’s not surprising that this style of painting appeals to Goldman. Much of his life has been centered around people — understanding and helping them, guiding them through their fears and triumphs. It feels appropriate that his art tends to capture the beauty of natural daily life. It also happens to be a process that often invites more connection with his subjects. “In the RV parks, people saw me painting outside and would say, ‘May I take a look?’ I met many wonderful people that way,” Goldman shared.

The Goldmans decided to put roots down several years ago and moved to Florida. Goldman was encouraged by his sister-in law, the professional artist Jody Goldman, to join (then) Island Gallery West. Goldman described it as, “a tremendous way to
display and sell my art in a setting of friendly and supportive artists.” Island Gallery West has since become Island Gallery and Studios on Main Street in Bradenton, and Goldman’s art is still available there.

When approaching his work, Goldman heeds the advice of an artist friend to initially paint for himself when something moves him, and to paint for others only secondarily. What has surprised him greatly, though, is how the things that inspire him seem to move others similarly — particularly when noting the popularity of his Midwestern farm scenes among the often coastal-centric Manatee County crowd.

Goldman tends to paint his surroundings, though, and much of his work now features scenes from his time Florida. He was already working on a series of paintings that capture downtown Bradenton when he sent some of his samples to Bradenton Magazine editor in chief Paula Wright. The image selected for this issue’s cover is from that series.

Perhaps it stems from his life as a man of faith, but Goldman is astoundingly humble. For all his accomplishments and talents — and enjoying his (at least) third career turn as working painter — he expresses his motivations and elations simply. “I’m often accused of pricing my pieces too low, but really, I just like when other people want to have something in their house. And better their house than mine because storage does become an issue!” Goldman says with a light laugh.

Goldman now spends a large portion of each day in front of the canvas, and Linda helps him with the business side of his artistry. He’s shown at many locations around Manatee County and will be displaying his work for a “featured artist” exhibit at Island Gallery and Studios in March of 2025. Goldman’s pieces are currently for sale at Island Gallery and Studios in Bradenton and can be viewed on darrylgoldman.com and Facebook.