For over two decades Danny Day, while being one of the most prolific and versatile American artists, has established a reputation worldwide for the high quality of his original works of art. Danny has made it a lifelong quest to master and refine his version of realism, perfecting the “master’s technique” of oils on canvas. Rich color and eye popping clarity are the hallmarks embodied in his works, which range in genre from sports to wildlife, auto racing, and lush romantic portraits.

“Sports Celebrity”

For the majority of his career, Danny has been best known for his collaboration with the some of the most famous and successful sports celebrities of our time. With his high school background of sports participation, including a state indoor championship in the pole vault and captain of the football team, Danny developed a love of and passion for the imagery of sport and athletic competition. Some of the more notable superstars to be portrayed on Danny’s canvases include Muhammad Ali, basketball greats Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal, golfers Jack Nicklaus and Fred Couples, Hall of Famers Joe Montana, John Elway and Dan Marino, baseball legends Mickey Mantle, Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, Tony Gwynn, and Derek Jeter, and auto racing legends Carroll Shelby, Dan Gurney, Juan Pablo Montoya and Phil Hill among many others. All of the athletes collaborated with Danny by signing the limited editions and, in some cases, participating in public forums and shows and purchasing the beautiful original oil paintings.

“Golf Landscapes”

Danny’s paint brush is not limited to portraiture. He has applied his vivid palette to the lush scenes of some of the most famous golf landscapes in the world, including a dramatic and glowing interpretation of the “Old Course” of St. Andrews in Scotland, and his many depictions of the beautiful panoramas of Augusta.

“Historical Scenes”

In a departure from the sports spectrum, Danny has created extraordinary works which include “Daddy’s Girl”, a delicate and moving tribute to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and “2 P.M. Tombstone” and “The Walkdown” his extensively researched depiction of the events leading up to the infamous Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. “2 P.M. Tombstone” and “The Walkdown” are the first and second of the trilogy and were recently bought out by interests in the small Arizona town and will be sold exclusively in the historic section of Tombstone.

“Wildlife”

Danny has also applied his form realism to the world of the animal kingdom. Unbelievably intricate and layered brush strokes were put to canvas in order to create the haunting and mystical paintings which make up “The Eyes of Africa” and “The Eyes of North America” series. Cheetahs, Lions, Elephants, and Zebras literally leap off the canvas, as if they have come to life. “Pride” and “Jaguar in the Jungle” are beautiful depictions of the mysterious animals and inspired Danny’s thoughts. “I have always tried to incorporate outside elements into my sports montages, including architecture, landscapes and different animals,” says Day. “So the wildlife series seemed like a natural and welcome progression from my previous works.” Danny has done a number of wildlife gallery exhibits and shows, including collaboration with Joan Embry of the San Diego Zoo.

“Romantic Realism”

One thing that has been consistent in Danny’s painting is his love of, and ability to create stunning and realistic portraiture. With that in mind, and in an effort to firmly expand beyond the limitations of the sport art genre, Danny has embarked upon a continuing series of works he has termed “Romantic Realism”. Beautiful girls in romantic and often sensual scenes, touching interaction between mother and daughter, sister to sister, and the learning experiences as a young girl develops and grows. These are all images that Danny has captured in this new genre.

From the loose, thickly painted, almost impressionistic backgrounds which flow and merge into the clothing and figures, to the trademark realism within the figures themselves for which he has become famous, Danny has truly embarked upon a new and exciting style of working. Lighting, composition and color are all combined within the paintings to create a story.

“Biography”

Danny resides in San Diego, CA, where he lives with his wife of 17 years and two beautiful young daughters. Born in the small town of Marion, Ohio, Danny strived to excel in all aspects of his early life. He was a standout defensive back on the football gridiron and won the state indoor pole vaulting championship. He graduated from High school with a 4.0 grade point average, was named valedictorian and received the highest scholarship offered by the Columbus College of Art and Design. After graduating from CCAD magna cum laude, Danny relocated to San Diego, California, where he struggled for a number of years trying to scrap out a living as an illustrator. His insistence upon painting realistically and in oils was a limitation in the field of illustration, so Danny stubbornly veered back toward Fine Art. Since he always envisioned himself first and foremost as a fine artist, this was not a giant leap. Beginning with a few small galleries in San Diego, Danny’s art has gained worldwide attention and a committed following in the last twenty years. “I approach each painting with the seriousness of creating a masterpiece. Whether it is or not is for someone else to judge, but that is my approach.”

Biography -An Artist's Story

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.