Deano Art

I had been a writer for my entire life until I discovered the miracle of painting in 2011. Two years later I had painted 1300 paintings. It was as if the hand of God had reached down and touched my heart and turned me into an artist. Once I started painting I couldn’t stop. I was obsessive and compulsive. I even painted in my sleep.

Just when I thought I could not be a happier man, God gave me two more unexpected gifts: diabetic neuropathy and sciatica. The level of pain brought on by those two gifts was remarkable. I soon realized I only had enough strength to do two things--work to get better and paint. Every ounce of anger, isolation, pain, and fear of death became another painting. Even with a relentless, never-ending round of doctor appointments, tests, and treatments I still managed to paint every day.

When I realized that nothing I tried medically could stop the pain I decided I should prepare to die. Every painting became My Last Painting. Then late one night when I was sitting in the midst of my paintings, I began to review my life. I discovered that every painting represented something I had been through and that all the pain had helped me become a better painter and a better man. I finally accepted the truth--God h...

Brigham Young University - BA - Dramatic Arts & Speech
University of California Los Angeles - MFA - Playwriting

2016 Solo Exhibition, Woman Show, Samuel French Bookshop, West Hollywood, California

WRITING AWARDS: Oscar Hammerstein Memorial Award, The Lucille Ball Award, Writers Guild of America East Foundation Award, Donald Davis Award, Springfield Fine Arts Council Award, Clarion Spring Festival of The Arts Playwriting Award, Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition (semi-finalist), Sergal Drama Prize, Theatre Americana Playwriting Contest (finalist)