dan zahn's biography

Dan Zahn is a self-taught artist who started drawing when he was five years old. He began by observing and sketching sports figures from magazines. While in school, Dan would draw friends and pets. During high school, Dan became involved in music, playing in local bands. Immediately out of school, Dan began work as a cartographer. In 1984, he joined a local art league. At this point, Dan began showing drawings and paintings in Chicago.

In the late '80s and '90s, Dan worked primarily on his music. In addition to his musical endeavors, Dan has become reimmersed in his artwork. Dan's heart is out West. Aside from portraits, he loves classic Western themes such as cowboys and American Indians. Dan works in oils, charcoal, colored pencil, and graphite. Dan is drawn especially to graphite because of the challenge it presents in creating realistic textures.

Dan currently works as an artist on commission. His artwork can be seen in local galleries around Chicago and at the Crazy Horse Museum in South Dakota.