Episode 4 - Dave Santillanes Interview

Fine Art Podcast
SUMMARY
Dave Santillanes, a landscape artist, shares his journey from being a graphic designer to becoming a full- time artist. He emphasizes the importance of painting outdoors and the impact it had on his work. Dave discusses the challenges of balancing a day job with his passion for art and offers advice for aspiring artists. He also explains his creative process, which involves starting with plein air studies and then developing larger studio pieces. In this conversation, artist Dave Santillanes discusses his approach to painting, including the importance of creating smaller studies before tackling larger pieces. He also talks about the challenges of maintaining freshness and brevity in larger paintings and shares his preferred tools and materials. Santillanes emphasizes the significance of shadows in creating atmosphere and offers advice for artists looking to market their work and build relationships with collectors. He encourages artists to embrace the journey and focus on the quality of their work.
DAVE’S LINKS
dasanti.com / dave.santillanes / davesantillanes.art
TAKEAWAYS
• Embrace the journey and understand that becoming a successful artist takes time and dedication.
• If you have to work a day job, make sure it's not soul-crushing and allows you to maintain your
passion for art.
• Start with plein air studies to capture the essence of a scene and then develop larger studio pieces.
• Photos can be a helpful reference, but it's important to analyze color and values from plein air studies.
• Having a supportive family can play a crucial role in nurturing a passion for art. Creating smaller studies before tackling larger paintings can help solve color issues and save time and energy.
• Maintaining freshness and brevity in larger paintings can be challenging, but it's important to find the right balance.
• Shadows play a crucial role in creating atmosphere in paintings, and studying shadows can greatly improve an artist's work.
• Social media and participating in shows can be effective ways to market artwork and connect with collectors.
• The art career is a journey, and it's important to enjoy the process and focus on the quality of the work.
KEY WORDS
Dave Santillanes, landscape artist, Artist journey, graphic design, full-time artist, painting outdoors, balancing your day job, creative process, painting, art studies, challenges as an artist, atmospheric perspective, art tools, art materials, marketing your art, art collectors, art galleries, art shows

[@katieharrisartist]

Dave Santillanes is my FAV plein air artist, even though I am a watercolorist! I have learned so much from studying Dave's work! Fantastic interview! You earned my subscription😀

[@thebusinessof_art]

So glad you enjoyed it! Thank you!

[@CarolLundeen]

I learned from Dave several years ago during a paint out in Colorado. Great teacher and excellent artist. Great interview.

[@thebusinessof_art]

Phenomenal artist…

Fantastic interview! I like what Dave said about learning to paint shadows and breaking down landscapes in shadow and light sources.

[@thebusinessof_art]

I agree! Really helped to simplify it in my mind too!

[@seanr2157]

I've had the Steve Martin quote as my home screen on my phone for years now. Yet another one of the may paralleles I am finding in these interviews. Very inspiring indeed. Great job!

[@thebusinessof_art]

Love that!

[@Morgane.de.Back25]

Great podcast ❤

[@thebusinessof_art]

Thank you!

[@carolmedford1098]

Great video - thanks

[@thebusinessof_art]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@MrMarvinCook]

Huge thanks on the cold grey and the mdf primer tip, which might solve the issue Im having.

[@thebusinessof_art]

So glad you’re finding value here!

[@devinmichaelroberts9954]

great interview... the cold gray thing was funny to me because i never thought to do that... i do mix the compliment to gray but i make sure i mix up the exact color needed to pull the saturation back without killing the color like he is saying.. different strokes but he inspired me to get a tube and switch it up. I like to add as many different tools into the tool box. This channel is great

[@thebusinessof_art]

So glad you’re finding value in the Podcast! Thanks for watching and for the feedback!

[@tomhoward8304]

Informative, and I'm late in my career. I've gone to the use of Shellac as a sealant barrier between my MDF and primer.

[@thebusinessof_art]

Thank you. So glad you’re finding value!