Dino Mehaffie

Dino Mehaffie is an extraordinary artist and only in the days of the old masters does one fine such incredible diversity. His ability to paint in every medium and his bronze sculptures confirm his title as the “Renaissance Man.”

Dino was raised in the Chicago area where art was and is still an integral part of the society. During his early years, his teachers began to notice an exceptional artistic talent, and it was then he was deemed a prodigy. He double promoted from 5th grade to the 7th in one school year. One teacher, in particular, made it her mission to get his talent recognized and subsequently was awarded a full scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago at the age of fourteen.

But, as fate would have it, he was not able to attend for long. When he was sixteen years old, the family moved to the Los Angeles area. He was extremely disappointed to leave the Institute, but vowed to finish his program of study as soon as he could. Times were hard in those days, and he found himself, like everyone else, having to go to work to help take care of the family instead of continuing his art education.

After many years of working as a landscape designer and building contractor, he was finally able to resume his formal art t...

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
* Karl Dempwolf, Master work shop in Plein Air
• Calvin Liang, Master work shop in Plein Air
• Chris Saltoff, sculptor: Masters class in sculpting, USC
• Steve Huston, Painting Workshop, California Art Club
• Jeffery Horn, Mentor Program, California Art Club
• Cowboy Artist of America, Blue Sky, Montana, Scholarship winner for workshop on location in Montana
• Debra Huse: Intensive workshop on color theory
• Michael Obermeyer: Plein Air workshop on location in Laguna Beach, CA
• Cindy Jackson, sculptor: Mentor Program, California Art Club

* 107th California Art Club Gold Medal Exhibition, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, CA
* Newport Beach Community Art Exhibition, Newport Beach, CA: First Place and People's Choice Award
* Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
* 106th California Art Club Gold Medal Show, Autry Museum, Los Angles, CA
* National Sculpture Society show at the Sparks Gallery, San Diego, CA
* La Galeria Gitana, San Fernando, CA Honorable Mention
* Norco Western Art Show: People Choice Award
* Cambria Fine Art Show: Best in Show Award
* Art and Wine Festival, Lake Arrowhead, CA
* Huntington Beach Art League: Best in Show
* California Art Club, Beyond Boundaries
* Balboa Art Walk, Balboa, CA
* San Francisco Cow Palace: Honorable Mention
* Big Bear Art Affair: Best in Show