About the Artist

DAN WOODS is a fine artist and actor. Dan works in dry media (charcoal and pastels) and has been drawing for most of his life. A self-taught artist, Dan’s work includes portraits of people and animals, human figures, landscapes, seascapes, and still life. He works from reference photos. Since moving to Massachusetts in 2021, Dan has set up a small studio. He has exhibited locally and continues to savor life in the Berkshires.

 

Artist Statement

 

After 60 years in the theatre, I still find the human being to be a fascination. The complexity and the potential for joy, despair, strength, and weakness, and everything in between never lose their ability to compel me. Since semi-retiring from the stage and reaching a point in my life that comes from being a certain age, I realized that I still had a desire and need to create and that I wanted to do so with an art that would leave something of a legacy behind me. In live performance, except in the memory of the audience, there is no such thing. So, what was a lifelong hobby became a consuming focus. 

 

In these chaotic times, I feel strongly that I need to add to the beauty of the world and to emphasize the gentler side of life. This expression of beauty can mean the act of creating can be an act of rebellion against chaos.