While studying at Central Noble High
School, his art teacher, Mike Curtis, taught
him how to blend, a skill that ultimately was
a seminal moment in his development as an
artist. He would spend hours drawing hair,
but once Mike taught him the trick of
drawing one line and then using a blending
tool, he never looked back. Learning that
“Art is an Illusion”, not letting himself get
caught up in the minutiae of detail, it felt to
him that he had been allowed to look behind
the curtain of how to create masterful art.
He realized to not over complicate art if it
isn’t necessary to deliver the message of his
creations.
At 16, Dan saw Frank Frazetta’s
book cover illustration for ‘Hour of the
Dragon’ at a bookstore in Albion, Indiana.
He bought the book, that illustration and Mr.
Frazetta’s art have been the biggest influence
in his artistic journey. He studied, admired
and drew renditions of Mr. Frazetta’s work
thousands of times and, ultimately, it has
bled into his own painting style. A bucket
list moment for Dan was visiting the home of
Mr. Frazetta in Pennsylvania and touring it
with Mr. Frazetta’s son. Dan felt lucky to
have been able to soak in the inspiration of
his hero’s shrine and have a conversation
with a living member of the Frazetta family.
Dan spent 15 years of his life working in his
families business in Kendallville, Indiana,
publishing a weekly newspaper, titled, The
Noble County American. Pre-press was
where he spent most of his time, the conduit
between editorial and printing. He loved the
teamwork involved, 60 people bustling to
meet 12-20 deadlines for each publication.
The moving parts of a large organism, each
molecule of being, important in function, and
completely necessary to paint a mental
picture in words and photos for the
consumption of an interested public.
SOCULTURES MAGAZINE MAY-JUNE 2019 / 52