• Paintings featured during one-man shows and art exhibitions throughout the United States - 1992 - Present.
• Studied at the American Academy of Art, Chicago, Illinois - 1991-1992; mastering the contemporary and modern techniques of painting.
• Escaped to America seeking freedom of artistic expression - 1988.
• Received accolades from art critics in Italy and won The Formello-Roma International Prize for Painting in Italy.
• Studied at the Benedetti Liberal Academy of Art, Rome, Italy learning to master the old Flemish and Venetian techniques of painting - 1986-88.
• Darida escaped to Italy from the tyranny of government restrictions in Romania - 1986.
• Became the official painter for former Romanian president Ceausescu - 1975.
• Attended Ecole de Belle Art, Bucharest, Romania - 1968 - 1975.
• Studied philosophy and music.
• Born in Transylvania, Romania, the son of an Italian father and Romanian mother - 1955.

Permanent Collections

• Many of Darida's recent works created in the United States are in the permanent collection in The Smithsonian Institute, Washington, DC.
• Darida's paintings are in the permanent collections of The Powerhouse Museum, the Sydney Opera House in Australia and the Dallas Museum of Art in Texas.
• Many of Darida's works are in the permanent collection in The National Museum of Art, Bucharest, Romania.

Technique

• Detailed and precise drawings go directly onto the canvas (to create texture). This is very unusual, most artists create and change as they work, but Darida does not.
• He "Sculpts" the canvas first before layers of paint are added is compelled to see the complete painting before beginning to paint.
• Textural areas are built up by using Venetian paste. There can be no mistakes.this "frames" many areas of the work.
• Ten to fifteen layers of paint are applied individually to give the translucent affect of flesh tone creating an inner luminescence and giving the old master flesh tone for realism.
• Light comes from within ("as in each of us when we are at peace") giving the same effect as Flemish master, Chiaroscuro, - an affect of light and shadow.

Common Themes and Elements to Discuss with Potential Collectors

• Music, Mother and Child, Women - Reflect the artist's passions and background (warm, close family..mother and father love for each other romantically expressed in morning ritual) Instruments are all from medieval period (harp, lira, viola and violin - woman's shape, flute - sounds like a whisper)
• Warm colors are used to enhance sense of warmth and security. Eyes - Why are all Darida's eyes closed? "Everybody has to close their eyes to dream. Sometimes, you do dream. Sometimes you don't.but, you always hear the music better" - A. Darida
• Simple Faces, Simple Shapes - reflect innocence and childlike emotions, which make his subjects more accessible to the viewer.