Dan Simoneau was born and raised in Lewiston, Maine, where he began formal art classes at 11 and at 13 joined the Androscoggin Valley Art Association as its youngest member ever. By the time Dan was a sophomore in high school he was exhibiting and selling his paintings in local summer art festivals. In 1980, Dan began studies at the University of Southern Maine. There he was influenced by artists such as Caravaggio, Chuck Close, Richard Estes and Philip Pearlstein. Of these artists, the influence of Caravaggio, Close and Pearlstein are still evident. Dan graduated in 1984 with high honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. His majors were painting, pottery and printmaking; his minor, art history.
Dan has continued exhibiting his work nationally and internationally, winning many awards. His paintings have also been published in many national and international publications. He is currently a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the National Oil an Acrylic Painters’ Society, the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic and the International Society of Acrylic Painters, of which he is a Signature Master. Dan is also a fellow in the American Artists Professional League and a Juried member of the Salmagundi Club. He is the current President of the International Society of Acrylic Painters. He has also been recognized for his achievements by being listed in Marquis Who’s Who in American Art since 2005.
Dan’s primary subject is light as it falls on objects. The object he uses to represent light is the male figure. He prefers the male figure due to its musculature and sculptural qualities with its just under the surface tension and strength. Because no person looks like any other person, the multitude of expressions and body positions provides an infinite source of subject matter and inspiration.
* This statement has been provided directly by the artist in association to their 15th International ARC Salon entries. This content has not been edited for typos or grammatical errors and has not been vetted for accuracy.
