Dave Santillanes
Born 1972 in Loveland, Colorado; lives in Fort Collins, Colorado
A NATIVE OF COLORADO, Dave Santillanes grew up at the base of the Rocky Mountains. Early family trips into the mountains fostered a deep love and appreciation for the wilderness and probably influenced his later preference for outdoor work, such as wildland firefighting, trail building and working on a ski mountain. After graduating from Colorado State University with a BFA in graphic design, Dave found work as a Digital Imaging Technician and also began to focus his artistic energy on oil painting. These early explorations into oil painting quickly merged with his love of the outdoors and, naturally, oil paint and a field easel became part of his outdoor gear. His explorations into painting and the wilderness continue.
A self-taught artist, Dave points to his first plein air painting excursions as the true beginning of his development as a painter – where direct observation allowed for a more precise rendering of color, light and atmosphere. And although studying the physical aspects of nature is important, it isn’t the only reason Dave paints outdoors. He says, “the sensory experience of being there is equally important. There’s no better way to really get to know a place than to sit for a couple of hours and contemplate it while painting. This intense observation brings a spiritual intimacy with the scene that can’t be achieved in mere passing and allows me to speak with complete sincerity in each painting.”
Notable Awards and Achievements
2022 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Henry Farny Award for Best Painting
2022 Buffalo Bill Center of the West, 1st Annual Buffalo Bill Art Show, Award of Excellence
2022 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Artists’ Choice Award
2020 Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Quest for the West, Artists’ Choice Award
2020 9th Annual Plein Air Salon, Finalist Awards, First Place Overall
2020 Oil Painters of America, National Show, Member’s Choice
2020 Oil Painters of America, Fall Online Showcase, First Place Signature Division
2019 8th Plein Air Salon, Finalist Awards, Third Place Overall
2018 Oil Painters of America, National Show, First Place Wet Paint Competition
2018 7th Annual Plein Air Salon, Finalist Awards, Honorable Mention
2017 American Impressionist Society, 18th National Show, William Schultz Memorial Award
2016 12th Annual International ARC Salon, First Place – Landscape Category
2016 Oil Painters of America, Salon Show, Best of Show
2016 Oil Painters of America, 25th National Show, Landscape Award of Excellence
2015 Oil Painters of America, Western Regional Show, Award of Excellence
2015 Abend Gallery of Fine Art, Solo Show
2015 Maui Plein Air Invitational, Honor Hawaii Award and People’s Choice Award
Selected Publications
Art of the West
Plein Air Magazine
Southwest Art