Background
Dana Levin was born on June 26, 1969 in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Then, she relocated to Miami with her family.
Dana Levin was born on June 26, 1969 in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Then, she relocated to Miami with her family.
Dana revealed her interest in drawing at the early childhood. She started her education as a fourteen-year-old-girl at the Belvoir Terrace Summer Art program in Lenox, Massachusetts where she had learned visual arts, painting and sculpture for one year. Then, in 1985, Levin enrolled at the Miami high school, New World School of the Arts which she graduated a year later with a High School Diploma of Visual Arts, Painting, and Print making.
The same year, Dana entered the School of the Art Institute of Chicago where she gained her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1990.
Seven years later, the painter travelled to Italy in order to ameliorate her artistic knowledge at the Florence Academy of Art where she had explored for three years the techniques of European masters under the tutelage of Daniel Graves, a Classical Realism painter. The latter, as well as Jean-Léon Gérôme and Robert Hale Ives Gammell, had a great influence on the development of her artistic mindset. At the Academy, she received her Certificate in Painting and Drawing on Classical Realism Oil Painting.
Dana Levin was also trained at the Boston area where she worked with such painters as Edmund Tarbell, Frank Weston Benson and William McGregor Paxton.
The start of Dana Levin’s career was related with the Florence Academy of Art where she became a drawing instructor of freshmen in 1999. She taught the sight-size method of drawing and was responsible for the academic drawing program for sculpture students. In 2002, the artist changed her instructor’s post on the director of drawing duties. During this one-year period, she was in charge of studio design.
Three years later, Levin pursued her teaching activity by founding The New School of Classical Art (NSCA) in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, United States which main goal was to ameliorate the status of the contemporary realist works and to provide newcomer visual artists with appliances helping them to produce high quality paintings. The painter had worked there as an instructor for two years.
Working as a teacher, Levin took part at many exhibitions, including "Realism Revisited" at Hirschl and Adler Galleries (2003), "Working From Life" at the Walsingham Gallery in Newburyport, Massachusetts (2009) and "Reflections & Celebrations" at the Walsingham Gallery in Newburyport (2011).
Nowadays, Dana Levin is working in her own studio founded in 2008 in Reading, Massachusetts and she is opened to the different kind of portrait commissions.
Heaven
Whirl
Scarlet
Forward Sweep
Haiku
Heaven and Earth
Woman Reading
Oranges and Glass Bowl
Bed of Abundance
Mountain Climber
Portrait of a Young Man
Echo
Flora
Orchids and Apples
Silent Still Life
Hydrangea And Tiffany Vase
Morning Bell
Carnations And Chinese Plate
Calla Lillies Behind Curtain
White Roses
Independence
Little Brown Jug
Pink Grapefruit
Citrus Bite
The Wedding Painting
Dana Levins’ paintings are the reflection of the often opposing relationships between the inner human world and the universe.
Her favourite citations are the statements on beauty by American poet Emily Dickinson "Beauty is not caused. It is." and by an American architect Frank Lloyd Wright who said "The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life."
Quotations:
"Art is something that has real value. It deepens each person's respect for life."
"Painting from nature is about the discovery of truth. Discovering beauty, discovering humanity. It explores our existence by giving body to ideas, through the undeceiving physicality of its subjects."
"I am inspired by symbols and stories of the desire to bridge a gap. This could take the form of our conscious and our subconscious, between lovers, or between humanity and the divine."
"Everything in my life outside of painting, somehow contributes to my work. I teach and I enjoy mentoring the next generation of realist artists. I like hunting for old art books and shopping for still life objects. I also enjoy going to the gym and eating healthily, if your going to be standing at the easel all day for the better part of your life, its important to keep in shape."
"I never thought of myself as anything else. When I was very young I wanted to be a maid, then a psychiatrist. By the time I was 11 years old, I wanted to be a painter. I was interested in all the arts: dancing, music, and theater. What I enjoyed most about the visual arts was that you could create something all on your own from start to finish, every aspect of the work is the responsibility of the artist and reflects their temperament. Paintings were like magic to me, an illusion that could transcend me into other realities, like music. When I hear a beautiful piece of music or see an amazing painting I forget about myself and become completely absorbed in the work. Also, my personality is suited for the studio rather than the stage."
"Don't let criticism get in the way of learning. Whatever negative comments a teacher or a college or even your family may make, consider them. Take it as an opportunity to see your work with a different perspective."
"Stick it out through the hard times and don't doubt yourself. Have people in your life who believe in you to give you a pep talk."
"When you wake in the morning and think of your day, put painting at the top of your list. And when you are in studio working, put all other things out of your mind."
"Study and practice as much as you can. There will be distractions, such as friends or family wanting your time and attention, but make sure your work doesn't suffer."
"Apply yourself to your work with everything you have."
"Painting from nature is about the discovery of truth. Discovering beauty, discovering humanity. It explores our existence by giving body to ideas, through the undeceiving physicality of its subjects."
Quotes from others about the person
"Dana is a truly gifted artist who has spent 20 years perfecting every aspect of her craft. Her paintings express the truth of her subject underneath perfectly balanced colors and subtle effects of light. She is also generous and gracious in sharing her knowledge with her students and patrons." Matthew Johnson, director of the Rhode Island School of Design
"When I first met Dana Levin at the New School of Classical Art, I was awed by her oil paintings. Both her figurative and still life paintings were not only technically accurate, but had a something more...a timeless quality... a natural beauty...a sophistication. At this moment I knew that I wanted to study under Dana. For two years I studied with Dana. She was a great teacher, mentor, and inspiration. I am grateful to her for providing me with a solid foundation for my own art work." Jo Ellen Reinhardt, a fine artist
"Dana is a truly amazing teacher. She demands excellence of her students and helps them achieve their goals. Studying at Dana's school was a life-changing experience for me. One of her greatest strengths is that she works very hard to make sure that you understand what she is trying to convey. She can explain difficult concepts succinctly and stays with each student until they have mastered it." Cate Hunter Kashem, ag raphic Designer & oil painter
"Dana is a truly gifted artist who has spent 20 years perfecting every aspect of her craft. Her paintings express the truth of her subject underneath perfectly balanced colors and subtle effects of light. She is also generous and gracious in sharing her knowledge with her students and patrons." Mark Wesling, owner of the Mark Wesling Guitar Studio
Dana Levin married on October, 7, 2007. The couple have two children.