Daniel Merriam's surreal artworks combine a romantic Victorian sensibility with a dreamlike imagination. Merriam (American, b. 1963) grew up in a small village along the coast of Maine and taught himself to paint. He studied mechanical and architectural design and began a career as an architectural illustrator. Unfulfilled after a few years, he gave up commercial art and built his skills and portfolio with fantasy-fueled drawings and paintings, including one titled Bubble Street. In 2012 he opened Bubble Street Gallery-an emporium celebrating creativity and the imagination in Sausalito, California-where he and other steampunk-infused artists showcase their work.