About Me
Hi, I'm Dean — a multidisciplinary visual artist based in San Jose, California. My work explores the intersection of human creativity and artificial intelligence, investigating the evolving relationship between people and large language models through painting, illustration, and printmaking.
I studied fine arts at Art Center College of Design and spent nearly 40 years at Adobe, where my career at the frontier of creative technology deepened my fascination with how tools shape — and are shaped by — the humans who use them. That question now sits at the heart of everything I make.
"Art is not what you see, but what you make others see." — Edgar Degas
Portfolio
Recent Work
Series: Field Notes
A series of small-format works made entirely on location — no reference photos, no studio edits. Each piece is a direct record of a place and a moment.
- Field Note #01 — Smith Rock, Oregon
- Field Note #02 — Sauvie Island at dusk
- Field Note #03 — Columbia River Gorge, after rain
- Field Note #04 — Mount Hood treeline
Process
Every piece starts with observation. I carry a small sketchbook everywhere and fill it with gesture drawings, color notes, and written impressions before committing anything to a larger surface.
Materials I Work With
| Medium | Typical Surface | Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Oil paint | Linen canvas | Large (18″+) |
| Gouache | Gessoed board | Small–medium |
| Etching / drypoint | Cotton rag paper | Small |
| Graphite | Sketchbook / Stonehenge | Any |
A Typical Day in the Studio
- Morning sketches — 30 minutes of loose gesture work
- Review reference material and set the day's intention
- Work on the primary piece in long, uninterrupted blocks
- Photograph work-in-progress and make notes
- Clean up and plan the next session
Exhibitions & Press
2025 — Group Show, Vessel Gallery, Portland OR
Selected as one of fifteen regional artists for Grounded, a group exhibition focused on land-based practice. Opening reception June 14th.
2024 — Solo Show, Studio 22, Portland OR
Small Hours featured eighteen new oil paintings exploring early-morning light along the Willamette River. Reviewed in Portland Arts Weekly.
2023 — Residency, Sitka Center for Art & Ecology
Six-week residency on the Oregon Coast resulting in the Field Notes series.
Get in Touch
Interested in a piece, a commission, or just want to say hello? Fill out the form below or reach me directly at dean@example.com.