Dave Santillanes
My intent with each painting isn’t a literal rendering of the scene. Rather it’s to capture and convey its essence. In terms of composition, I look for quiet, simplicity. And I’ve found that there are many opportunities to simplify a scene without compromising its sense of ‘place’. Therefore I’ll seek out the big abstract shapes in the landscape and use them for the underlying design concept. And since I’ve departed from a literal interpretation, I’m free to rearrange elements to fit this concept. In this way I can describe the scene in my own “words”. Finally, capturing the essence of a landscape involves a realistic rendering of color, light and atmosphere. This requires direct observation and is why my work begins in the field with a plein air study. But studying the physical aspects of nature isn’t the only reason I paint outdoors; for me, the sensory experience of being there is equally important. There’s no better way to get to know a place on earth than to sit for a couple of hours and contemplate it while painting. This intense observation brings a spiritual intimacy with the scene that can’t be achieved in mere passing and allows me to “speak” with complete sincerity in each painting.
Dave
Wellington, CO
Dave Santillanes
Dave Santillanes was born and raised in Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains, where trips into the wilderness fostered a lifelong connection to the outdoors. Along with an early interest in art, he spent his childhood drawing wildlife, western subjects, and landscapes—the same themes that continue to inspire his work today.
A self-taught artist, Dave began painting outdoors shortly after graduating from Colorado State University with degrees in Graphic Design and History. At the time, he was working as a wildland firefighter and digital imaging technician, leaving painting to evenings, weekends, and any spare moment he could find. For twelve years he balanced work and painting – steadily developing as an artist before making the transition to painting full time.
Known for his mastery of light and atmosphere, Dave credits those formative years of plein air painting with shaping both his technical skills and artistic vision. But according to Dave, painting outdoors is more than simply capturing light. “The sensory experience of being there is equally important,” he says. “There’s no better way to truly know a place than to sit with it for hours and contemplate it while painting.”
While the landscape remains central to his work, Dave’s fascination with the history and culture of the American West continues to shape his artistic vision. He is especially interested in the relationship between people and place, and the ways in which the land has shaped the character, traditions, and spirit of the West. In recognition of this work, he was elected into the Cowboy Artists of America in 2023, following in the footsteps of his earliest artistic heroes.
His work has earned numerous honors, including the Members Choice Award for Best Painting at the 2026 Oil Painters of America National Show, the Anne Marion Best of Show Award at the Cowboy Artists of America Exhibition & Sale, the Henry Farney Award for Best Painting at Quest for the West, Top Landscape at the 12th Annual Art Renewal Center International Salon, and Grand Prize at the 9th Annual PleinAir Salon. His work has been featured in Western Art & Architecture, Art of the West, PleinAir Magazine, and Southwest Art, and he is a Signature Member of Plein Air Painters of America.
Dave currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with his wife, Heather, who is also an artist, and their daughter, Callie.
