Painting is an intimate conversation within myself, the canvas is like the pages of a diary and at times I am is willing to share this intimate conversation.The pages are fragile the edges farad, some have been torn out of frustration some smeared from fear of failure some wrinkled from being held to tight, some have been dipped in dreams and dried in the sun and some are waiting to be turned.What is said between the words become more important than the words themselves. Art at its best moves something that is indefinable within myself. This is why I turn the pages.”
Dan McCaw is a contemporary American artist that lives and works in Torrance California with his two accomplished artist sons John and Danny.His work is a bridge between his traditional background and the contemporary influences that continually impact his art. Strong design is the foundation that his work is based upon but curiosity is the fuel that drives his creativity. “Art flourishes in change, it expands when its limits are limitless. The artist must remain open to its possibilities and eliminate the dispassionate. The dignity of art is not in its constants but in the liberation of its possibilities. “Influenced by the classical masters at an early age Dan, over the years, has seen his appreciation and seduction for many different genres of art. “Anything that make me think, makes me engage and broadens my perceptions is of great importance and interest to me.” Dan tries to make his paintings somewhat ambiguous so that the viewer, if they wish, can participate and walk through a door that he just holds open, what you find inside becomes your own. If he defines or explains everything Dan feels that he robs you of your own experience.Dan was raised in a small colorful tough Irish mining town of Butte, Montana, whose people were far richer in character than the precious copper that was mined day and night. It was in these formative years much of his own character was molded and from which he constantly draws upon.Dan began my formal art training at the San Francisco Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California when he was twenty, then on to the Art Center College Of Design, in Pasadena, California and the Bongart School of Art in Santa Monica, California. He was a on the facility of the Art Center College of Design for over fifteen years, has have had over forty Solo Exhibitions, numerous national and international articles, written one book and in 2007 was given an Honorary Doctorate degree in 2007 by the San Francisco Academy of Art University. Dan lives with wife Stacey in Torrance, California, has five children and eight grandchildren. BORN Dec 16, 1942Seattle, WashingtonEDUCATIONMontana Tech of the University of Montana Butte, MontanaAcademy of Art University San Francisco, CaliforniaArt Center College of Design Pasadena, CaliforniaBongart School of Art Santa Monica, California Honorary Doctorate Academy of Art University San Francisco, California 2007SELECTED EXHIBITIONS2014Anne Irwin Fine Art, McCaw Legacy, Atlanta, GA2013 Morris & Whiteside Gallery Three Man Exhibition, Hilton Head, SCLong Beach Museum, Group Show, Long Beach, CACalifornia Museum of Fine Art, Group Show, Torrance, CA2012OFA Invitational, London, EnglandGallery 1261, Group Show, Denver, COGallery 25 CPW, Converge” New York City, NYLancaster Museum, Past and Present, Lancaster, CAMorris & Whiteside Gallery, Three Man Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC2011Madden Museum, Windows to the Devine, Denver, COGallery 1261, Winter, Group Exhibition, Denver, CODistrict 3 Contemporary, Torrance, CAGallery 1261, McCaw, Denver COAnne Irwin Fine Art, The Man Exhibition, Denver, CO2010Gallery 1261, Small Works, Denver, CO2009Saks Gallery, American Art Invitational, Denver, COGallery 1261, Group Show, Denver , CO2009 Gallery 1269, Small Works, Group Show, Denver, CO2008Gallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Denver, COMorris & Whiteside Galleries, Two person Exhibition, Hilton Head, SCTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZGallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Denver, CO2007Trailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZGallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Interpretation of the Figure, Denver, COC.M. Russell Museum, Invitational Art Auction, Great Falls, MTAmerican Art Invitational, Group Exhibition, Denver, COMorris & Whiteside Galleries, Auction, Hilton Head, SCTrailside Galleries, Group Exhibition, Jackson, WYTrailside Galleries, Small Works, Scottsdale, AZ2006Morris & Whiteside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Hilton Head, SCGallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Small Works, Denver, COHoward Manville Gallery, Invitational, Seattle, WAGallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Large Works, Denver, CO2005American Heritage invitational Exhibition, Houston, TXTimmons Galleries, Three Man Show, Solana Beach, CAWendt Gallery, McCaw Tradition Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CATrailside Galleries, Two Man Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZMendenhall Sobiski, Group Exhibition, Pasadena, CAGallery 1261 Group Exhibition, Small Works, Denver, COSalon D’ Arts, Group Invitational Exhibition, Denver, CO. 2004American Heritage invitational Exhibition, Houston, TXMorris & Whiteside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Hilton Head, SCWendt Gallery, McCaw Tradition Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CATimmons Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Rancho Santa Fe, CAAnne Irwin, Invitational Exhibition, Atlantic, GASalon D’ Arts, Group Invitational Exhibition, Denver, CO. 2003 American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MOTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZAmerican Heritage invitational Exhibition, Houston, TX 2002American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MOTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZMorris & Whiteside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Hilton Head, SC2001 American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MOTimmons Galleries, Group Exhibition, Rancho Santa Fe, CATrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ2000Legacy Gallery, Group Exhibition, Livingston, MTGladney Foundation Invitational Exhibition, Houston, TXMorris & Whiteside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Hilton Head, SCAltermann Galleries, Group Exhibition, Dallas, TXTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ 1999American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MOTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ1998American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MO 1997American Legacy Gallery, Solo Exhibition, Kansas City, MOTrailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ 1996Trailside Galleries, Solo Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ1990SLBA Invitational Exhibition, Saint Louis, MOBiltmore Invitational Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA1988Shriver Gallery,Solo Exhibition, Taos, NMBiltmore Invitational Exhibition, Los Angeles, CA1987NWR invitational Group Exhibition, Helena, MT1986Shriver Gallery,Solo Exhibition, Taos, NM1985 Society of American Impressionists Invitational Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ1980Shriver Gallery, Group Exhibition, Taos, NM1985Society of American Impressionists Invitational Exhibition, Scottsdale, AZ1980Shriver Gallery, Group Exhibition, Taos, NM1978Green Street gallery, Solo Exhibition, Pasadena, CA1977 Green Street gallery, Group Exhibition, Pasadena, CASELECTED ARTICLES AND PUBLICATIONSEasy Reader 2013American Artist, Studios, 2011Focus, China , Dan McCaw, January 2010American Art Collector, Friends and Art, OctArt and Antiques MagazineApril 2008American Art CollectorOctober 2005International ArtistDecember/ January 2003Southwest Art MagazineMay 2003Southwest Art MagazineMarch 1996Island Scene MagazineSpring 1995Art TalkFebruary 1995Southwest Art MagazineOctober 1994Southwest Art MagazineFebruary 1993Fine Art CollectorFebruary 1991Western Art DigestSummer 1985Southwest Art MagazineMarch 1983Art Voices SouthSeptember 1979