Contemporary Artist Phil Dynan - Marathon, Silkscreen & Art of Lassen Volcanic National Park>

Phil Dynan is a working Artist and contemporary author. The term "working artist" means that he makes his living by creating and selling original works. He has been a working artist for over thirty years. His most recent exhibition was at the University of California, Davis - in the International House. Click here to take a peek at the show.

His painting and serigraphy styles have earned an International following. They also "evolve" about every five years. The evolution comes as the result of being dedicated to his Art and the inevitable growth that goes along with daily study and practice.

Dynan's work first became widely known and published internationally during the 70's. His creation of a line of prints and notecards was hailed as a breakthrough in the rebellion against the bland-generality of the Hallmark look. (Ironically, Dynan's parents both worked at Hallmark when they met and married in the 40's.) His initial notecards and prints offered superior paper and brilliant colours. The paper used in the first card production line was Strathmore duplex. The inks were a mixture supervised by the young artist, involving a combination of standard CMYK process inks and "fluorescent" process inks. The first cards were printed in Sacramento, California, by Fong & Fong Printers, a family operation that took extraordinary care in the printing process.

One of many popular sports images, this Giclée Print features the spirit of the Triathlon. Click here to look at more Running Art.

Click here to purchase this framed,signed, & limited editon print.

Within a few months of the first printing, Dynan's work became recognised worldwide. By the end of the first year, publishers like Verkerke Reprodukties (Holland); Harvey Hutter Inc (NY), The Graphic Factory (Japan), the White Press (France) and Rainbow Bridge (UK) began to license Dynan images and produce cards, posters and fine art prints in over 107 countries.

His recognition resulted in commissions for cycling and running events worldwide. And during the 80's he began using serigraphy as a method for reproducing collectible art for major events. His posters and prints for such events as the Tour de France, Tour Feminin, Coors Classic, California International Marathon, LA Marathon, San Diego Marathon, Tahoe Marathon, the San Francisco Marathon, and many others were often produced as serigraphs (silk-screened) or mass produced by offset lithography. Distributors like Bruce McGaw Graphics (NY), Image Conscious (SF), Image Masters (LA), and others began to distribute his athletic event work.

Dynan maintained a home in Northern California through this period, but with the help of a close friend, Jeannette Nelson, he was also able to work and paint in London. His time in London became an opportunity to get away from "business as usual" and allowed him to develop ideas and paintings that were not necessarily as "commercial" as what he was producing in California.

In 1998, Dynan married a working associate, Anastasia Nelson, who had earned a degree in Fine Art Studio Painting from UC, Davis. They gradually built an art studio in a remote part of Northern California with the intention of creating - undisturbed by normal business and city-neuroticism - fresh paintings. They wanted to devote their time to full-time painting. They installed 12-foot doors in the studio so that they could move large canvases in and out. (Dynan had seen this construction used at a studio built by Cézanne in Aix-en-Provence.)

Dynan now produces fine art paintings and prints at the studio. He also continues to paint in London at times during the year.

Dynan and Nelson established the Red Bluff Art Gallery in Red Bluff, California in 2007. It is the only Art Gallery in Tehama County. The Gallery was established primarily as a public service. Exhibits in the first year have involved over 100 local artists - some experienced, some hobbyists, but all with a burning desire to produce and share their work. (Click here to see some of the works.)

Dynan is also closely aligned with Cool ID Tags.com - owned by Larry Osborne. The company produces custom made I.D. tags which are light, colourful and contain personal medical and emergency contact information. Originally designed just for runners, they are now purchased by a wide variety of customers worldwide. Dynan and his wife, Anastasia, designed most of the colourful designs that appear on the personalised i.d. tags. Click here to purchase some inexpensive i.d. tags - use them on your person, on your clothes, on your luggage, or other possessions! Don't get caught filling out paper tags at the airport again! Click now.

Dynan can be reached by emailing here.

An immediate message can be sent by clicking here.

Muntader al-Zaidi should receive an award for courage and honesty.