Dan Fleming is a Milwaukee-based artist who is drawn to water. Many of his childhood memories include the element and swimming in it. 

That's likely why blue is the background color of many of his works, the likes of which he creates using acrylic paints, acrylic inks, and sometimes, watercolors. Humanoid figures show up in Fleming's artworks, and other times dreamy and radiant landscapes. 

Several of Fleming's pieces just got added to Carnelian Art Gallery's growing permanent collection. Fleming is also slated to show work as part of the gallery's Carnelian Collection show, which kicks off on Friday, March 6, starting at 5 p.m. That night, long-time Madison artist Chuck Bauer will give a talk promptly at 6 p.m. Light refreshments will be served, and admission is free. 

Fleming said he grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, but didn't nurture his passion for art until high school. He had always enjoyed drawing cartoons and comics. The artist graduated from the Milwaukee Insitute of Art and Design in 2010, having majored in graphic design. 

Now, Fleming is a freelance graphic designer and fine artist who works out of his home studio. 

He said he's always been heavily inspired by the late French visual artist Henri Matisse, known for his use of color, drawing, and cut paper collage. 

Of showing at Carnelian Art Gallery, Fleming said "I'm excited about it."