I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, surrounded by Portuguese relatives. After married, we moved to Australia and lived there for 3 years, just before we landed in Texas in 2011, a place that our two sons call home.
I am a self-taught figurative watercolorist who likes to develop paintings that speak to the public. My background, of caring for children in foster care, has made me into a more sensitive person. This tendency impacts what I expect from my paintings and their emotional narrative. My art is innocent, romantic, and pure. They convey a feeling of freedom and hope. Just like fairy tales, my paintings tend to speak to the public, tell stories, and portray an emotional narrative, revealing feelings and thoughts.
Daniela Werneck is a realistic watercolor artist based in Houston, TX. Her work combines one of the oldest forms of art with a contemporary aesthetic. Born in 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, surrounded by Portuguese relatives. Daniela graduated from the Fine Arts School of Rio de Janeiro in 1999, majoring in Interior Design. She worked in this field until moving to Australia in 2008, before settling in Texas in 2011, where her two sons call home. A self-taught watercolorist, Daniela became a full-time artist in 2015, focusing on realistic figurative watercolor. Since then, she has exhibited her work nationally and received numerous awards in national and international competitions. Her pieces are included in prestigious collections such as the Bennett Collection of Women Realists and Dick Blick Art Materials. Daniela's work has been featured in various publications, including books, magazines, and magazine covers such as Splash, American Art Collectors, Southwest Art Magazine, and Watercolor Artist Magazine.
Notes from the Artist:
Most of my artwork is created on a unique clay panel known as Aquabord, which is produced by Ampersand Art. This acid-free, textured clay surface has the remarkable ability to absorb watercolors in much the same way that fine paper does, allowing me to explore the medium in new and exciting ways. The surface is smooth yet textured, offering a subtle, almost velvety finish that enhances the depth and richness of the watercolor pigments.
I prefer working with a limited color palette, typically no more than five hues. This approach allows me to focus on the interplay of light and shadow, emphasizing the beauty of simplicity. My process is methodical and patient—applying multiple layers of translucent watercolor pigment onto the clay surface and lifting them out as needed. This technique helps create a luminous, almost glowing effect, as the pigments meld and blend in subtle, organic ways. In the majority of the cases, the whites in my paintings are not added as paint; rather, they are the absence of pigment, where the clay itself shines through, creating contrast and highlighting areas of light.
Once the painting is complete, I take great care to protect it. I apply one or two coats of Archival Aerosol Varnish MSA with UVLS which is formulated with 100% solvent-based, reversible acrylic co-polymer resin. This finishing process not only preserves the integrity of the piece but also eliminates the need for glass when framing, giving the artwork a more direct, tactile presence in any space.
National Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
Watercolor Art Society of Houston (Signature Member)
Women in Watercolor Society (Signature Member)
American Women Artist (Master Member)
The National Portrait Society
2024 "Three Voices" exhibition at RJD Gallery
2024 International Watercolor Competition at Women in Watercolor
2024 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists
2024 Mater and Heritage Member of AWA exhibition at Tubac Art Center
2023 International Art magazine competition
2023 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists
2023 Solo Show at RJD Gallery "Metamorphosis"
2023 'International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2023 "Pushing Forward Reaching Back" at Brookgreen Gardens (museum) by American Women Artists
2023 Bold Brush competition month of January
2023 "Splash" - 'The Best of Watercolor' at Artists Network
2022 19 Watermedia Showcase at Artists Network
2022 'More Than..." at Tucson Museum of Art
2022 Members Only Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2022 International Exhibition at National Watercolor Society
2022 ARC Salon
2022 Spring Online Exhibition at American Women Artists
2022 Breaking Through, The Rise of American Women Artists at Customs House Museum & Cultural Center - "Spring Solace"
2021 Members Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2021 Spring Online Exhibition at American Women Artists
2021 Lifting The Sky at American Women Artists
2021 International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2020 ARC Salon
2020 Members Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2020 1st International Women In Watercolor
2020 Splash 22 international watercolor competition
2020 “Shades of Light” is our 10th annual juried art show to benefit The Retreat at RJD gallery “Dreams of Hope”
2020 Spring Online Juried Show at American Women Artists
2020 February exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2019 December Small Paintings exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2019 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America
2019 “Inside Out/Outside In” at RJD gallery by Poets and Artist
2019 “Paint The Figure Now” at ZHOU B Art Center by Poets and Artists
2019 - “Tri-States Portrait Exhibition” at the Gaylord-Pickens Museum by The Portrait Society of America "Tired of The Way Things Have Been".
2019 - "50th Members Exhibition" at Watercolor Society Houston
2019 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists
2019 Splash 21 international watercolor competition
2019 International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2019 "I Observe" juried exhibition at Rehs Contemporary Gallery
2018 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America
2018 Members-only exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2018 International Exhibition at Louisiana Watercolor Society
2018 National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society
2018 National Exhibition at Georgia Watercolor Society
2018 International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2017 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America
2017 48th Member-Only Annual Exhibition of Houston Watercolor Society
2017 Watercolor Art Magazine Competition
2017 NWS Members Exhibition at National Watercolor Society
2017 National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society
2016 Members Annual Exhibition at Watercolor Society of Houston
2016 Annual International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston
2016 Texas Top Ten Portrait Artist by Portrait Society of America
2015 46th Annual Members Exhibition at Watercolor Society of Houston
2015 66th National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society
2024 International Watercolor Competition at Women in Watercolor “Let The Light In” - Best in Show
2024 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists “Talking to a Hummingbird” - Merit Award
2024 Mater and Heritage Member of AWA exhibition at Tubac Art Center “Let The Light In” - Best in Show
2023 International Art magazine competition “Talking to a Hummingbird” - Second Place Award
2023 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists “In Full Bloom” - Grand Prize Award
2023 'International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston "The Blue Butterfly" - Herbert Family Award
2023 "Pushing Forward Reaching Back" at Brookgreen Gardens (museum) by American Women Artists "The Blue Butterfly" - Best Figurative/ Portraiture Award
2023 Bold Brush competition month of January In Full Bloom" - Best in show
2023 "Splash" - 'The Best of Watercolor' at Artists Network "In Full Bloom" - Second Place Award
2022 19 Watermedia Showcase at Artists Network "She Holds The Future" - Honorable Mention
2022 'More Than..." at Tucson Museum of Art "Serene Mother" - Invited by the museum
2022 Members Only Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston "The Exclusion of A Butterfly" - First Place award.
2022 International Exhibition at National Watercolor Society "Bursting Into Bloom" - Third Place award.
2022 ARC Salon "She Holds the Future" - Finalists
2022 Spring Online Exhibition at American Women Artists “Keepsake” - Merit award for figurative
2021 Members Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston “Amo De Mia Vivo” - 2nd Place award
2021 Spring Online Exhibition at American Women Artists “The Retreat” - Grand Prize Award
2021 Lifting The Sky at American Women Artists “The Great Kiskadee” - Finalist
2021 International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston “The Black Letter and A White Canvas” - Award of Merit
2020 ARC Salon “The Great Kiskadee” and "Serene Mother" - Semi-Finalists
2020 Members Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston “The Retreat” - 1st Place award
2020 1st International Women In Watercolor contest “The Retreat” - 1st Place award
2020 Splash 22 international watercolor competition- "The Swallow" - Honorable Mention
2020 Spring Online Juried Show at American Women Artists “The Swallow” - Finalist
2020 February exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston " Gone With The Wind" - 3rd Place Award
2019 December Small Paintings exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston " Innocence" - 3rd Place Award
2019 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America “The Swallow' - Finalist
2019 - "50th Members Exhibition" at Watercolor Society Houston "Spring Solace". - Second Place Award
2019 Annual Online Exhibition at American Women Artists "Lost in Doubts" - Finalist
2019 Splash 21 international watercolor competition- "Left on The Shelf" - Finalist
2018 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America “Dreamer"- Finalist
2018 Members-only exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston "Dreamer" - Honorable Mention Award
2018 International Exhibition at Louisiana Watercolor Society “Left on The Shelf” - Second Place Award
2018 National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society “Thoughts Lost Me” - Cheap Joe’s Award
2018 International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston "When You Live in an Upside Down World" - Honorable Mention Award
2017 Members Competition at Portrait Society of America “Tired of the Way Things Have Been” – Fifth Place Award
2017 Watercolor Art Magazine Competition “The Girl with Popcorn Dress” – Honorable Mention, featured in the May/June issue.
2017 NWS Members Exhibition at National Watercolor Society "The Girl with Popcorn Dress" – Past President Award
2017 National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society “Left on the Shelf” – Holbein award
2016 Members Annual Exhibition at Watercolor Society of Houston “The Girl with Popcorn Dress” - Second Place Award
2016 Annual International Exhibition at Watercolor Art Society of Houston “The Imaginary Rainbow Rain”- Merit Award
2016 Texas Top Ten Portrait Artist by Portrait Society of America “Who Cares” – Top Ten.
2015 46th Annual Members Exhibition at Watercolor Society of Houston "By Your Side”- Holbein Award
2015 66th National Exhibition at Texas Watercolor Society "Love of My Life”- Jack Richeson & Co. Award
