Dan Telosky

About the Artist

Dan Telosky grew up along the shores of Discovery Passage on Vancouver Island, with a clear view of British Columbia’s marine environment. His interest in, and affinity for, B.C.’s working boats has grown over the years, and what began as artistic dabbling has advanced to his all consuming passion.

Starting from Campbell River, his home port, Dan spends countless hours on the water in his own slow moving trawler “Ocean Symphony”. It is impossible not to be inspired while being immersed in a marine environment like this. ‘I have taken thousands of photos while on the water and I know I have irritated a few of the skippers at times, but I need lots of different angles to get the best lighting and shadow.’

What marks Dan’s style is his focus on detail and his need to get as close as possible to the real thing. “I continue to be motivated by the endless wonderful scenes that I experience each time I get on the water.”

Capturing all the details of these marine scenes provide an endless challenge. “As a young man I used to look at a tree and see just a tree. Today I look at a tree and I see all the possibilities, details and subtleties it is amazing and keeps me inspired. The water is even more so and it is always in flux. Quite often as I travel in Ocean Symphony, we will round a point and the water conditions change drastically. The wind is different, the light is new, and the current and colour has changed.”

It takes many hours, for Dan to painstakingly produce a painting that completes his vision, without compromise. Combining the understanding that comes from years of being on the water with his keen eye Dan creates his acrylic paintings.

He is a member of the Canadian Federation of Artists and the International Society of Marine Painters. Last year at the Sidney Fine Art show the painting “Seaspan Navigator off April Point” won an Honorable Mention award. His pictures are as far away as Germany and Texas, but the bulk of his work is near where he paints, on Vancouver Island.

“I am a very lucky guy. I live in an absolutely beautiful place and have a great boat to get out and see it. To be able to try and capture the beauty by painting is just another bonus.”