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I am planning a new series of blog posts introducing you to artists you should know. I begin this series with a friend of mine, Dave Santillanes.

 

 

Near Yaki Point by Dave Santillanes. 12 x 16 oil. © Dave Santillanes. Used by permission.

 

The work of Dave Santillanes appeals to me on several levels.

 

First and foremost, you can feel his deep connection to the subject. He sees and feels and responds to the landscape with great insight. It shines through his work and touches me as a viewer. This is the most important characteristic of any artist I admire - the authenticity of their voice as an artist.

 

But, even beyond that, he has the technical ability to show me what he sees and feels as an artist, and better yet, why. And as for technical ability, he is one of the best artists out there. Through his technical prowess, Dave is able to distill the scene down to the essence of place. When viewing his work you get a sense that you are discovering the significance of that landscape. There is a familiarity in truth, and his paintings reveal both.

 

Dave's work is about finding the underlying truth and relationships found in the larger abstract masses. The strength of his work lies in the arrangement of shapes. The integrity of the shapes are maintained through economy of detail. Everything superfluous is eliminated.

 

Trail Ridge by Dave Santillanes. 20 x 30 oil. © Dave Santillanes. Used by Permission

 

Few artists capture depth and atmosphere as well as Dave. His keen sense of color and value enable him to render paintings that breathe with space and depth.

 

I also admire the way he handles the paint itself. Unfortunately, the online images don't completely reveal the sensitivity of his brushwork. When viewing his work in person, his distinctive style becomes evident. His brushwork is placed with confidence, but it doesn't become flashy. He mingles passages of transparent and opaque pigment on a smooth surface to create a luminosity to his work.

 

Oak Creek Passage by Dave Santillanes. 12 x 16 oil. © Dave Santillanes. Used by permission

 

While the application of the individual strokes of paint don't distract from the larger composition, they are employed masterfully to tell part of the story. And for those of you who delight in such things, his brushwork is a feast for the eyes.

 

Dave is quickly becoming a major player in the art scene. He has received many awards and continues to wow artists and collectors alike. Whether you are an artist or a collector, he is certainly an artist you should know and follow.

 

Visit his website: www.dasanti.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes a work of art hits you over the head (not necessarily literally). The reasons could be many. But it effects you deeply. Often in surprising ways.

This happened to me a week and a half ago.

It was at an art show in Santa Clara, Utah (near St. George). I was looking around, admiring the great art at the show when I was stopped in my tracks. What I saw caught me off guard: 2 lifesized painted mugshots by McGarren Flack.

They were brilliantly painted. And the frames were even carved to show the inmates height.

 

Mug Shot 140628, by McGarren Flack, oil on linen.

 © 2011 McGarren Flack. Used by permission.

 

The paintings were fascinating on several levels.

First, his technical skill is superb. The richness of color was a feast for the eyes. His talent for painting the figure is unarguable. And the surface quality of the paint was delightful. The paintings were amazing (I wish the images did them justice).

But, on top of that, he was able to capture the essence of his models. The mugshots were not simply a likeness. They told a story - even without the placard. Yet the placards added a bit of whimsy to the works.

 

Mug Shot 094731, by McGarren Flack, oil on linen.

© 2011 McGarren Flack. Used by permission.

 

Although McGarren only had 2 paintings from the series at this show, there are a total of 24 mugshots. The concept is that everyone is "guilty" of something. For some it's visible, for others, not so much. He took that idea and created a line-up of individuals with petty or insignificant "faults". Yet, we often "convict" each other of these petty traits.

McGarren created booking sheets to accompany the paintings.

In a solo exhibit of the works, he merged traditional painting with installation art. The 24 paintings were hung around the gallery at actual height, creating a line-up of the 24 inmates. I wish I could have see that complete exhibit.

 

Mugshot 202999, by McGarren Flack, oil on linen.

© 2011 McGarren Flack. Used by permission.

 

He is working on securing other venues to exhibit the show in its entirety. This is one artist worth collecting, and this series in particular. To view all 24 mugshots, click here.