DAN BURR
I come from a family of artists, so I was immersed in the creative process from an early age. That lifelong exposure eventually led me to study art and illustration at Utah State University, where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Illustration, and later at Syracuse University, where I received a Master’s degree in Illustration.
Many of my subjects—pirates aside—are inspired by the natural landscape of Idaho, where my wife and I make our home.
For me, creating a painting is a kind of magic. Whether I’m depicting a fisherman in his favorite stream or a child lost in dreams of pirates and buried treasure, the heart of my work lies in designing and communicating a compelling narrative. Painting is simply what I do; it comes as naturally to me as walking. I am deeply grateful for the ability to create images that resonate with viewers and mean something to them.
For most of my career, I worked traditionally in oils on canvas and panel. In 2002, like many artists, I began exploring digital art. Recognizing its value as an illustrator, I gradually adopted a digital painting process. Over time, I developed techniques that allow me to achieve the same texture, realism, and attention to detail digitally that I once created with brush and paint on a traditional surface.
Over the course of my 37-year career as an illustrator, I have been fortunate to receive awards and recognition within the publishing industry. I also taught illustration for more than 20 years at Brigham Young University–Idaho.
When I’m not working on a project or fishing, I can usually be found puttering around the house or in the boat shed, tending to one of the wooden drift boats that always seem to need attention.
I can be reached at dan@danburr.com or 208-351-2302.