While a passion for simplicity might seem to be a bit of a dichotomy for someone born and raised in the vibrantly active Southern California beach community of Torrence, 38-year-old landscape painter Glenn Dean emphasizes this is the quality he strives for, both in his personal lifestyle and most decidedly in the creation of his dramatic Western landscapes, which portray nature in its most basic forms.

Glenn Dean (California)

Land of Titans
Oil
30″ x 30″
“I’m drawn to the big, simple shapes found in the canyons of the Southwest. I liked the monumental silhouette of this mesa in the warmth of the afternoon light, using the lone rider to show our connection to the land-and how we are just passing through these ancient landscapes.”

Glenn Dean (California)

Dry Bed
Oil
20″ x 30″
“I always try to think about how the eye will move throughout a painting. This piece was fun to make use of different lines and patterns to lead the eye throughout the foreground, middle ground, and background. It was challenging to paint the effect of a dry, clear morning in the Mojave.”