At twelve years old Danny took his first painting class. It would prove to be an eye opening experience and a seminal turning point in developing the artistic talents of a young boy. Danny was an avid drawer from the earliest ages, spending a great deal of his free time sketching anything and everything. He showed an amazing propensity for the ability to draw. He would sketch his favorite characters from movies, comic books and the like, and create portraits of anyone willing to sit in front of him. After seeing the obvious talent he was exhibiting, a very supportive mother and grandmother decided it was time to push Danny’s skills to the next level. They sent him to a local painting class held every Saturday morning in the basement of the instructor’s home. It was there, amidst the rolling fields of central Ohio corn, that Danny first learned the basics of applying paint to canvas and discovered what would become his lifelong passion. Starting with acrylics and a canvas board, he soon proved to be a natural and easily developed an advanced technique well beyond that of a normal 12 year old. After three months of learning all he could, Danny took the next step himself.

He received the prestigious top scholarship to the Columbus College of Art and Design as well as a number of other academic scholarships, and was able to fund all the other expenses of college life from his commission work. On a creative level, Danny was painting anything and everything, from landscapes to portraits to his personal favorite, sports figures, being recognized in 1981 and 1982 with the esteemed Governor’s Award of Excellence for his original acrylic paintings.

He spent years developing and refining his acrylic painting technique while staying away from the oil paints that would eventually become his forte and passion until he went to art school. His introduction to oils was a turning point in Danny’s development as a realist. He discovered an amazing amount freedom within the properties of oils which allow for manipulation not available with the fast drying acrylic paint he had always used. With experimentation came familiarity and an ability to create the classically realistic images for which he has become known. It was not an easy transformation, but because of Danny’s willingness to experiment with a new media, a broader and more expansive world opened up before him. The Columbus College of Art and Design was an interesting time for Danny, as the school, while well renowned, focused more on directing the student body toward graphics arts and areas of the art industry that were less exclusive than the Fine Art world.

In this vein, Danny, was convinced to major in Illustration instead of where his heart truly was, in Fine Art. Danny graduated in 1986 magna cum laude with a BFA majoring in Illustration. Soon thereafter he packed up his car and moved to California with the intention of setting the west coast illustration world on fire. An interesting thing occurred before that could happen. Danny obtained an illustration agent, and while he waited for the big, high profile jobs he was looking for, he kept painting on his own and created works of art celebrating his favorite athletes. A local gallery showed interest in exhibiting and marketing his original oils, and Danny jumped at the chance.

The exposure he received proved to be a springboard into the industry, where he turned his initial success into a long career and worldwide following. While his style and commitment to realism have remained constant, the topics and genres he has delved into span a diverse and varied arc.

From his long career of collaborating with the most famous athletes of all time, to his enchanting creations of wildlife, golf landscapes, and Romantic Realism, Danny’s art continues to inspire and amaze.

Colosseum Fine Arts is proud to represent the work of Danny Day.