When Did The Madness Begin?
In response to the most frequently asked question of professional artists: When did you start painting?

Dj's invariable reply is, "I never stopped!"

And so he hasn't from the first time he stole a crayon from his sister's Crayola box and crawled across the floor to create a masterpiece on his parent's wall, to the most recent paintings of the current collection, Dj has painted, studied painting, or taught painting in one form or another each day of his life.

"Exploring the world and rendering its details in light and color on canvas or paper has always been a part of my life. It's as much a part of me as breathing."

Although mostly self-taught, Dj received some early training in traditional oil painting techniques under the tutelage of Fox River Valley Artist Merle Fryer, and was exposed to the richness of art history and the diversity of artistic expression at the Art Institute of Chicago.

"If I see a beautiful tapestry of clouds at sunset or the oddly cast shadow of a ripe orange on a marble table the desire to capture it on paper or canvas is almost overwhelming."

Dj's artistic expression is best characterized as Romanticism. Through the use of deep, rich colors and dramatic lighting, Dj strives to capture the magic of every day things and make them extraordinary.

"The act of rendering my view of the world is often difficult and frustrating, but sharing the finished image with those who enjoy my work makes the struggle a pleasure."