A Colorado native Chuck was born and raised in Englewood, Colorado. While attending Englewood schools his childhood summers were spent on a farm in rural Nebraska and Kansas an experience that still provides inspiration for landscape paintings. While working as a pressman for Martin Marietta he attended the Colorado Institute of Art and graduated in 1964.
Chuck started his design career as art director for a Denver television station, a few years later he was invited to join the Denver Research Institute at the University of Denver as design director. In 1967 he co-founded a graphic design firm based in Denver. A past president of the Art Directors Club of Denver, Chuck is active in the art community and has served on the Board of Directors of several civic organizations. After 35 years in graphic design, Chuck began a second career as a watercolorist.
As a painter he is mostly self taught except for workshops with the some of the most highly esteemed watercolorist.
After the owners retirement of his three major galleries Chuck made the decision to begin teaching, “I now enjoy teaching nearly as much as painting”. After a successful and rewarding twelve years of teaching classes and workshops with a strong following the 2020 pandemic put a sudden stop to in person learning. Most of his time now is spent in the studio painting and developing watercolor techniques on synthetic paper.
Inspiration for his wildlife and landscape paintings comes from his travels in the US, Canada, Europe, Mexico, Spain and Africa.
Chuck has earned numerous local, regional and national awards and distinctions for his work including the first person named to the Colorado Institute of Art Hall of Fame. The artist has exhibited his paintings in numerous exhibitions and galleries. His work can be found in private and public collections around the country and is currently exhibiting in a number of regional locations. He is a signature member and Past President of Colorado Watercolor Society and a member of several Colorado art organizations.
"My goal is to capture the beauty of a subject or scene in a manner that people haven't seen a million times before." Chuck’s abundant use of color, texture and unique composition add excitement to all of his paintings.
Commissions welcome
Original paintings of any size, color or specific subject are available upon request. Contact Chuck for specific information on the development process and how the client is involved at various stages of the painting to insure satisfaction.
Due to COVID no classes or workshops are scheduled
Awards and Honors
First Person inducted into The Colorado Art Institute Hall of Fame Artist's Magazine Art Competition Finalist
Colorado Governor’s Invitational Show and Sale (5 years)
Best of Show, Colorado Visions Show
Best of Show, Mountainside Art Guild
Best of Show, Heritage Fine Arts Guild
Colorado Watercolor Society, Presidents Award
Colorado Artist's Guild,
This is Colorado
Charles Des Moineaux Memorial Award
Gateway to the Rockies, Kate Tauer Award (2 years)
Western Federation of Watercolor Societies Exhibition 2 years Rocky Mountain National Watermedia Exhibition 2010
Worked published in Best of American Watermedia 2010
Numerous other awards in local and regional shows include:
first, second, and third place awards, merit awards, awards of excellence and honorable mentions 1998 - present.
Contact
If you would like Chuck to jury a show, do a demo for your
art group or conduct a workshop for your organization,
please contact: Chuck Danford
303.758.9090
e.mail: ckdanford@comcast.net
Memberships
Past president, The Art Directors Club of Denver
Signature member, Past President
Colorado Watercolor Society
Member and Past President, Mountainside Art Guild
Member, Heritage Fine Arts Guild
All Images Copyright 2021
All Rights Reserved