Dan Oakleaf is a nationally known award- winning artist and painting teacher from Colorado. With a background in commercial print and design, Dan developed his fine art painting skills beginning with studies at the Art Students League of Denver, culminating with a mentorship under acclaimed artist and teacher Kevin Weckbach. 

Mainly working in oil, watercolor and pencil, Dan’s varied styles and exploration of painting techniques make each work a new visual discovery.

Dan has lived in Colorado his whole life, where he explores the back country whenever he can. In 1996, a chance encounter with a mischievous Pine Marten rekindled a schoolboy obsession with drawing. Making sketches of this curious little creature gave him a way to hold on to this fleeting moment. After a few years of honing his drawing skills mostly in his spare time, the decision was made to take the next step learning to paint. 

After a short workshop with wildlife painter Terry Issac and another with nature artist Robert Bateman did little more than inspire. Dan realized he needed more intense study. A friend suggested the Art Students League of Denver. He began his studies with Boulder artist Molly Davis, two years with Molly and he was starting to see real improvement. At this time the same friend who suggested the league, introduced Dan to Denver artist Kevin Weckbach. They immediately hit it off, and Dan started the intense one- year comprehensive painting course Kevin offered. Through Kevin’s generous teaching style and interaction with other talented students, many of whom were professional artists, the skills all started coming together. 

At the league Dan has also had instruction from Quang Ho, John Lencicki and Tony Ortega. Now Dan is painting full time, and still paints with Kevin a couple times a month.  After exploring all manner of subject in the beginning of his painting studies, Dan is starting to again focus on the natural world he loves. Sometimes painting in the field, sometimes in his studio, and even painting in the back-room zoology department at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Although Dan believes the most important parts of a painting are the visual properties and technical aspects of a work, nature still provides the inspiration.

Represented at Arts at Denver: http://www.artsatdenver.com/artists/Oakleaf/Oakleaf_bio.htm

Six awards at the Glenwood Springs Fall Arts Festival from 2008 to 2010

Summer 2008 Artist in Residence at the Aspen guard station in the San Juan national forest.

Painting selected for “Reflections of the Natural World” art exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, on display thru Spring 2011;

Colorado 14ers and Beyond, an Artist’s Alpine Journey, Solo Show; January of 2014

Jeanne Mackenzie’s style of painting is a blend of impressionism and realism. Her paintings are done in oil with rich warm tones and a painterly application. These reflect the bold light and striking contrasts of her favorite still lifes and western landscapes.

Jeanne Mackenzie is a Colorado resident living in the Fort Collins area where she is one of the founding members of the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters. Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Teaching Credential from San Diego State University she eventually fell in love with and devoted herself to oils. She has studied with Clyde Aspevig, Michael Lynch, Matt Smith and Calvin Liang. Her paintings are featured in several fine art galleries in Colorado, California and Arizona.

Her artwork has earned Merit Awards and shown at juried shows throughout the United States including the Oil Painters of America Show, CM Russell Invitational Show and Arts for the Parks-Top 100 (award of excellence). Jeanne has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s Best of the West and My World, American Artist’s Workshop Magazine, Plein Air Magazine and International Artist Magazine–Master Artists. She was invited to be a part of the Richeson Art Series Book and art book Dust on My Shoes/Sun on my Back. Her work has hung in the Houston Museum of Natural Science and Minnesota’s Tweed Museum.  She shares her love of art by teaching national and international (Italy, Guatemala, Mexico) painting workshops and has been on staff at the Denver Art Museum teaching color theory, composition and painting.

EXHIBITIONS/ AWARDS

Colorado Governors Show 2020- Award of Merit – October 2020

American Legacy Art Show – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act- Best of Show – Oct, 2014

American Women Artist- Booth Museum, Cartersville, GA- Oct. 2014

Plein Air Artists Colorado- 2nd Place Award- Juror Karen Vance – August, 2014

Paint the Poudre- 3rd Place Award- Juror Marc Hansen- July, 2014

Larimer County Resources Artist of the Year- 2014

Grand Teton Association/ RMPAP- Artists Choice/Best Painting and GTA Collection Purchase- July, 2012

Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters- Artists Choice Award/Best Body of Work- Crested Butte, July, 2010

CM Russell Invitational Auction – March 2010 and Masters in Miniature, 2010

Outdoor Painters Society Invitational- December, 1009- Merit Award and Jurors Selection Award

Tweed Museum- University of Minnesota- October 2009

Invitational Governors Art Show- Loveland, CO, 2009

Salon International-Greenhouse Gallery – Juror Award-Daniel Greene May, 2009 and 2010 and 2013

American Women Artists Invitational – South Street Art Gallery, Easton, MD-2007 and 2009

Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters-Merit Award-Juror-William Scott Jennings August, 2007

Houston Museum of Natural Science/SKB Foundation- 50 chosen from 1750 entries- March, 2007

Arts for the Parks- Miniature Show – Jackson, WY, September 2004

Oil Painters of America-Howard/Mandville Gallery May, 1998,2002, 2003 and 2004

Arts for the Parks-Top 200- Award of Excellence September 2003 and 2001

PUBLICATIONS

Outdoor Painters/ Plein Air Magazine- Guest writer ‘Why This Painting Works’ 2013-present

Plein Air Magazine– Pursuing Effortless Artistic Elegance- March, 2012

Dust on My Shoes/Sun on my Back- 18 artists’ view on Painting- NH Studios Press-2009

Southwest Art Magazine/ My World – June, 2008

American Artist Workshop Magazine- Fall 2007

Cowboys and Indians Magazine– Gallery Artists- March, 2007

Richeson Art Book- Invitational artist – Plein Air New Mexico 2006

Sky West Magazine- Cover Photo and feature article- July 2005

Southwest Art Magazine– ‘Best of the West’- April, 1999

International Artist Magazine– Master Artists, August, 1999  

Daniel Smith Catalog – Guest writer–article 2002 and 2003

AFFILIATIONS

Richard Schmid Invitational Auction- Charter Member

Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters- Signature member

American Women Artists- Signature Member

Plein Air Artists Colorado- Signature Member

American Impressionists Society