We had the good fortune of connecting with Desmond O’Hagan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Desmond, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?

I knew I had the potential skills and had to try while I was still young (mid twenties). I also felt that I would regret not pursuing an artistic career when I was older. It was important to challenge myself and put my skills to work regardless of the risk. It’s not a career that one goes into lightly and is riskier to start when you’re older with more financial responsibilities. To sum up, I wanted to paint and succeed.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am an artist who paints in oils and pastels. My style can be described as representational with abstract elements. I enjoy painting people, urban scenes, landscapes, interiors, and still lifes. I have been painting and drawing since I was very young and I trained in college as a graphic designer. After working a few years in an advertising agency, I felt I had the marketing skills to help in pursuing a career in fine art. It was not easy but my skills in promotion were crucial in getting my art noticed. It’s very important for me to be constantly improving my art and be challenged by new subject matter and higher goals.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

I live in Denver, Colorado, so there is an abundance of places and things to see. I would start with a visit to the Brown Palace Hotel, one of the oldest hotels in Denver with remarkable interior and exterior architecture. Denver also has wonderful art museums and art galleries worth seeing. A visit to Lodo (lower downtown Denver) would also be on the itinerary with it’s variety of restaurants and pubs. Lastly, over the course of a week, I would include trips to the mountains to visit Vail, Aspen, and Glenwood Springs, for hiking and sightseeing.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to recognize my wife, Carole, my parents, and deceased artist, Pawel Kontny, for their unwavering support of my career from the beginning.

Website: www.desmondohagan.com

Instagram: desmondohaganfineart

Facebook: Desmond O’Hagan

Youtube: Desmond O’Hagan

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.