Meet Dan Ossandon | Graphic Designer & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Ossandon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, why did you pursue a creative career?
From my earliest childhood I have always enjoyed expressing myself artistically. My mother tells the story that when I was two years old, she regretted removing my crayon animal drawings off the walls because they were too realistic to erase. As a child, my favorite Christmas gift was a ream of typing paper and a new box of markers. In kindergarten, I won the class art contest and that experience gave me a boost in confidence in my artistic ability.

By high school, I was beginning to sell my art to friends and other students. My first business endeavor was screen printing my hand drawn artwork onto t-shirts, stickers, and posters. During my college years studying graphic design, I learned new skills and techniques to create art for businesses and professional needs, and began designing logos for extra income. Through out my years of education, my teachers and professors repeatedly recognized my artistic talents and encouraged me to pursue art as my career.

Today my art business has expanded to art commissions, custom designs, murals, and prints. My most popular works are drawings in my unique style of people’s houses and pets. I have also created a number of prints that promote mental health and other social issues. Art is a part of who I am, and artistic expression is my way of living.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I want my art to produce good vibes, so I get excited when people see my work and respond with positive and emotional connections. Much of my material is a mash-up of vibrant colors and illustrations communicating an idea or theme. I use my art to express myself and often find I connect with others via my work. This has helped me to form new relationships and opened opportunities to display my art in a wider market.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When my friends come to town, we enjoy the local art galleries of downtown Colorado Springs. Exploring the amazing rock formations of Garden of the Gods, followed by an afternoon in Manito Springs is always a great day. When possible, we also make a trip to Denver to view the murals of the River North Art District and check out the immersive art at Meow Wolf. When the weather permits, a trip to the top of Pikes Peak makes for a breathtaking experience.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents for supporting and encouraging my artistic career.

Website: www.danoart.com

Instagram: @dano_dro