Dan Nelson

For most of my life, painting was something I started and stopped—a quiet desire that often lost to self-doubt. It wasn’t until my late 50s that the desire to paint finally outweighed the fear of not being "good enough." I began with abstracts and sunsets, learning how to use color and experiment with technique. With every brushstroke, I built my confidence and found my direction—my voice.

Once I let go of what I imagined the world expected from my art, I discovered the freedom to truly express myself. That freedom allowed me to grow, to experiment, and ultimately to develop a style that feels authentically mine.

I grew up in Chicago and worked as a graphic designer, but it was a year spent living in Palm Springs that truly awakened something in me. I fell in love with the quirky charm of the people and the bold lines of Mid-Century architecture. Both have become recurring inspirations in my work. More than that, it was a year of self-discovery—of learning who I am, what I feel, and what I believe in. That inner exploration led me to a sense of joy and peace, which now pulses through every painting.

I work exclusively with acrylics on canvas—my impatient nature doesn’t suit oils—and I paint from my home studio, often with my cat...

Ray Vogue 1975