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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