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Dan Graziano
(American)
Dan Graziano is an award winning, nationally exhibited artist whose
paintings capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and
fleeting moments of everyday life. His work has been featured in
numerous publications and is in the collections of private and corporate
collectors throughout the world.
His artistic vision began
taking shape in the 60's, during America's explosive political, cultural
and artistic awakening. His first formal training focused on
advertising and illustration, but a career opportunity in architecture
and urban planning altered his original direction.
When he returned to
painting, he was drawn to the rich complexity of the urban landscape –
inspired by Edward Hopper and other urbanist painters. As an
accomplished blues guitarist (his other great passion), he found the
city streets, time worn buildings and multiple layers of decay and
repair a visual parallel to the spirit and culture of the music. In
addition to cityscapes, his subjects can diversely range from a simple
still life to rugged coastlines, small rural towns and forgotten
roadside relics. Frequently, a small fragment of a larger composition
will catch his eye because of its unique geometry or how it is magically
transformed by the way light hits it.
“In my paintings, I
try to capture the hidden beauty found in the unexpected places and
fleeting moments of everyday life. I continue to be intrigued by the
urban landscapes of inner cities - their active streets, time worn
buildings and multiple layers of decay, renewal and adaptation - that
proudly display the effects of age and use, which I see as testaments to
strength, character and authenticity in contrast with modern society’s
demand for newness, imitation, disposability and easy duplication.
My work is influenced by the American realists such as Sargent,
Hopper and the three generations of Wyeths along with California
painters Thiebaud and Diebenkorn.”
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