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Dave Santillanes Art

Dave Santillanes, born and raised in Northern Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains, found his early love for the wilderness through hunting, hiking, and backpacking. With a natural interest in art, he began drawing wildlife, western subjects, and landscapes at a young age—subjects he still paints today. In 1995, he received his BFA in Graphic Design and a minor in History from Colorado State University. Soon after, he transitioned from pencil and paper to brush and canvas, painting as often as possible while working as a wildland firefighter and later as a digital imaging technician. Over time, Dave discovered the benefits and rewards of outdoor painting, where direct observation allowed for a more precise rendering of color, light, and atmosphere. The sensory experience of painting outdoors was equally important to him. “There’s no better way to get to know a place on earth than to sit for a couple of hours and contemplate it while painting,” he says. This intense observation brings a spiritual intimacy with the scene, allowing him to “speak” with complete sincerity in each painting. Dave’s painting style has evolved to focus on capturing the essence of a scene rather than a literal rendering. He seeks simplicity in composition, using big abstract shapes for the underlying design concept and rearranging elements to fit this vision. This approach enables him to describe the scene in his own “words.” After 12 years of dedicated painting, Dave went full-time as an artist. He soon gained international acclaim for his atmospheric landscapes, which increasingly depict western subjects and wildlife within those landscapes. This journey led to his induction into the prestigious Cowboy Artists of America in 2023, an honor that brings him closer to his early art heroes: James Reynolds and Howard Terpning. In addition to his induction into CAA, Dave has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Henry Farney Award for Best Painting at the 2022 Quest for the West Show in Indianapolis, Top Landscape at the 12th Annual International ARC Salon, and Grand Prize Overall at the 9th Annual Plein Air Salon. His work has been featured in Art of the West, Plein Air Magazine, and Southwest Art Magazine. Dave currently lives in Colorado, with his wife Heather, who is also an artist, and their daughter Callie.
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Artist: Dave Santillanes
Remnants - Serene Oil Landscape of Rural Barns in Winter Light, 2017
Remnants - Serene Oil Landscape of Rural Barns in Winter Light, 2017

Remnants - Serene Oil Landscape of Rural Barns in Winter Light, 2017

By Dave Santillanes

Located in Denver, CO

Dave Santillanes' "Remnants" (2017) is a masterfully rendered oil painting that captures the quiet beauty of a rural landscape transitioning between seasons. Measuring 24 x 40 inches...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Dave Santillanes Art

Materials

Oil

Otto's Road (Study)
Otto's Road (Study)

Otto's Road (Study)

By Dave Santillanes

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original Oil painting signed by the Artist in the lower right corner.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Dave Santillanes Art

Materials

Oil

Whisper of Light 2

Whisper of Light 2

By Dave Santillanes

Located in Denver, CO

Whisper of Light 2, 2018

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Dave Santillanes Art

Materials

Panel, Oil

Emmaline Lake
Emmaline Lake

Emmaline Lake

By Dave Santillanes

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original painting signed by the Artist on lower left.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Impressionist Dave Santillanes Art

Materials

Oil

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Previously Available Items
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Uplift Study

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Dave Santillanes art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Dave Santillanes art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Dave Santillanes in oil paint, paint, panel and more. Not every interior allows for large Dave Santillanes art, so small editions measuring 20 inches across are available. Dave Santillanes art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,200 and tops out at $9,000, while the average work can sell for $7,450.