About

I have been drawing and painting since childhood. I was born and grew up in the East Tennessee area and my inspiration comes from the rural landscapes of this area. Most of my paintings are of the mountains, hills, lakes and structures of the East Tennessee area. I get inspiration from the changing light and colors that come from the distinctly different seasons of Tennessee. Many of my paintings are also of places and scenes where my wife, Diane, and I have traveled.


A graduate of the University of Tennessee, I have a BFA degree in Graphic Design and an MS degree in Art Education. I retired from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture where I was employed as a graphic designer and illustrator for 37 years.  I now devote full time to fine-art painting


I began painting watercolors in 1968, as an art student at the University of Tennessee. My early work was mostly in watercolors, but now the majority of my work is oil painting.  

  

I began exhibiting my work in 1970 and had my first solo exhibit in 1971. I have had 21 solo exhibits. I have participated in numerous national, state and regional art shows and my work is represented in over 500 private and public collections throughout the United States. 

Painting of Smoky Mountains with clouds in overcast sky by Gary Dagnan

“I want my paintings to express the emotional and spiritual connection that I have with nature. I am more interested in the aesthetics than I am with documenting a specific place. When someone views my art, I would hope they would have an emotional as well as visual connection to the work.” 

Art is a collaboration between God and the artist, and the less the artist does the better.

                                                                                ANDRE GIDE