DENNIS DOWNEY

Dennis Downey has painted for over 25 years and is one of Santa Fe's best known painters. His influence of studies include Wilson Hurley, who focuses on depth perception encompassing the vast picture of the Southwest landscapes and Eric Sloan of the National academy, who focuses on the big sky and cloud formations in his work. Dennis uses the phrase "cloud scapes" as a way of differentiating his partially realistic, partially fantasy paintings from more traditional realism.

Twenty years of working with Santa Fe area artists has allowed Downey to become a better artist himself. "It could only have happened because of the diversity of artists who live there and who share their experiences with me," he says.

He and wife Julie have raised nine children and Downey is quick to praise all nine family members for their support during his years of midnight painting sessions follwed by weekend art shows that, over time, built a group of collectors of his work.