
Dan Collins Fine Art
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The beauty of the rural landscape has been a constant inspiration for me – first the farmland that surrounded my hometown of Crystal Lake, Illinois, and now in the wild spaces of my adopted Door County home. Recently these landscapes have focused on the shorelines of Green Bay and Lake Michigan. I find the challenge of depicting the transparency of water, and the rugged beauty that surrounds it, extremely satisfying.
I paint in the style of Photorealism, working primarily in acrylic on large-scale canvases. I chose this process for its great impact on experiencing the vastness of a scene. My paintings are influenced by those of Harold Gregor, my professor and internationally known artist at Illinois State University. It was there that I graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts.
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Dan Collins
My love of art was nurtured from a young age, starting with art competitions in elementary school, and then later during high school in my hometown of Crystal Lake, IL. There, my talented instructors inspired me to follow my passion for art at Illinois State University, where I obtained my B.S. in Fine Arts. The most creative time in my life was my college years. Everything — from life drawings, painting, and lithography, to sculpture and ceramics — captured my attention and expanded my interest. College gave me a chance to test many different mediums, but as time passed, I always found myself returning to canvas.
I began my professional art journey in 1982, and for nearly 40 years, I’ve been fortunate to work with clients on a wide range of creative projects. Over time, my focus has shifted more fully to fine art — especially photorealistic paintings that capture meaningful places and lasting memories. Whether painting custom commissions, large-scale murals, or landscapes inspired by the natural world, I approach each piece with precision, care, and a deep respect for the beauty around us. Today, I continue my work as a full-time artist, dedicated to preserving real moments through realistic, handcrafted art.
My wife, Maureen, and I moved to Door County full-time in 2021. We fell in love with the peninsula (and each other) 40 years ago and have celebrated every one of our wedding anniversaries in the county since.
Thank you for your interest in my art!
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