Oregon artist Jim Daly paints to evoke memories of childhood and to capture images of an ideal life. Daly uses props from the early part of the 20th century up until World War II to date his nostalgic paintings. "What I am really working toward is a look that evokes a memory from my viewers," he says. "In fact, the greatest praise I receive is getting letters from people who tell me that my children remind them of their own kids or grand kids."

Daly began his interest in art at a young age painting in watercolors. He later turned his focus to boxing and found some success during a stint in the army when he won all 18 of his amateur matches. Rather than extend his enlistment and fight in the all-Army championship, he left the army and...