He was born and raised in Texas, and received both a bachelor of fine arts and a master's degree in printmaking. Post-graduate work was done at New York's Pratt Institute, he taught art for nine years and then was able to devote all of his time to his artwork. His technique is complicated and requires painstaking care. He begins with an acrylic study, which is then used as a model for color and composition. He makes different original drawings for each color that will be printed, usually between 15 and 20 colors. Alaniz's work is serene, known for its gentle treatment of light and the subtle graduations of color. Each work is a delicate blending of realism, romanticism, and impressionism that reveals the tranquil, reflective side of nature. Alaniz has participated in many international shows, has received numerous awards, and his work is found in many private, corporate, and museum collections worldwide. The New York Public Library, the United Nations, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam all are home to original Arnold Alaniz pieces. In 1984, Midwest Art magazine named Alaniz the top selling landscape artist in America. He spends quite a bit of time working in New York City, but his home is in Wisconsin.
