About The Artist

Born a few miles from the Pacific Ocean, my early recollections are of outings to the beach. Filled with wonder and exploration of the elements. This expanded with the years into a love of the water and water sports. Wildlife has also provided inspiration from early wanderings with my father, looking in tidepools at the foot of rocky headlands in Southern California. I remember seeing my first sea anemone, octopus, crab and small fishes. Growing up I discovered an aptitude for art.  Drawing, painting and cartooning in school.  At first copying everything then experimenting freehand.  Family job transfers then led to school in Michigan and then life in Texas.  This paved the way to receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Studio Art from The University of Texas at Austin.  Along the way learning basic graphic art.  The key to my survival proved to be luck, helpful family and friends, good eyesight and a willingness to try any kind of art.  Always painting when time allowed.  After working in several commercial offset and screen print shops doing prepress layout and art, I branched out into freelance commercial art.  This led to employment in the advertising department of a folk art importing company.  From there finally, I arrived full circle to focus on Fine Art and painting the joys of just being in nature.

dale@dalewilkins.com