Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Teteak.
Dan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve always been a creator in some form or another… drawing, painting, sewing, sculpting, assembling, etc. From a relatively young age, I was creating a lot of paintings, drawings, and furniture. I subsequently attended the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design for Industrial Design. Industrial designers create innovative, ergonomic, and visually appealing products; from cars and phones to tools and appliances. I’d been a practicing industrial designer for over 20 years, but the expressive nature of NON-mass-produced items always pulled on me. I’d been making and experimenting with personal artworks during that time and evolved things into where they are now. I’m now focusing on two specific avenues of expression: oil painting and furniture.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I think a lot of the struggle for me has been realizing that I don’t need to be validated by what I do. That and the fear of not being able to make something of my work. It’s something I’m pushing, pulling, and experimenting with on an ongoing basis. But what’s meaningful to some is not to others, and that’s perfectly OK. It’s a struggle for a lot of people to find their audience – no matter what they do. So I’ll do what I do and if it resonates, that’s fantastic!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I do both painting and furniture. In my furniture, I’ve played with some custom, brightly colored powder coated metal legs for tables, but lately I’ve been experimenting more with “art cubes”. It’s a combination of art and furniture. I’ve made canvas ones and painted them, but the colored pencil expressions (with a lacquer coating to ensure durability) are more interesting and fun to me. They’re unique in that they’re an artistic expression, but also a useful stool to use while putting on socks or shoes, as a computer stand, as a side chair, or even a foot rest. I try to cover them on all six sides to really make the piece immersive and interesting from every angle.
My oil paintings are the abstract expression of horizons – places that could be very stark and minimal, but also expansive. You can find this in the seeming nothingness of the great plains, a stark desert landscape, gazing out the window of an airplane at the empty sky, or on the beach looking out at the endless ocean. There’s something so magical about it to me – so much calm, perfection, simplicity, and potential all combined into a meditative endlessness. The work itself started relatively small in scale, but has progressed to canvases that are up to 8 feet wide. The larger paintings are a more immersive experience… and they look as good behind a couch or bed as in a gallery setting! I’d say the extreme proportions of my paintings are something that sets me apart from others – with some at the 1:6 or even 1:8 ratio.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I’m happy to discuss any collaborative efforts that people might be dreaming of. I do commissions on a limited basis, but I’m always willing to discuss intentions or perhaps an idea I haven’t had yet! To support or connect, check out my website or reach out through email anytime.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.drtdesign.art
Image Credits
Dan Teteak
