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A Little About Dan
Danny J. Fennell is a retired Air Force veteran and
Michigan native who has always had a love for drawing. Even when Dan was
young he enjoyed drawing trees and landscapes. At age 14, his family moved
to Chicago due to his father's job. There, Danny, signed up for a drawing
class.
Mr. Bombgardner, his instructor, was a great inspiration in the
development of Mr. Fennell's talent. Near the end of the school year, he
entered a piece in an upcoming art show. The drawing received a gold key
award in the state of Illinois. this was the beginning of a talent that
would shine for Mr.
Fennell in years to come. Outdoor, and especially maritime themes are his
biggest passion. Dan believes that learning how to draw is the most
important skill needed in art.
One year later, Danny's family decided to move back to the Detroit area.
There, he signed up for a watercolor class under the instruction of Ms. Sue
Bartomeolie. Again, he won an award for his artwork, this time in the state
of Michigan. In that same year, Danny met Leo Kuschel, a well known artist
in the Great Lakes Region. By chance, he was the father of one of Danny's
friends. Mr. Kuschel's work was very detailed through his use of watercolor
and ink. His nautical paintings were especially of great interest to Danny.
Danny became a lighthouse enthusiast when the Kuschel Family invited him
along on a lighthouse trip in order to photograph many of them for future
art work. Leo Kuschel has been Danny's great mentor by far.
Mr. Fennell also tried his hand at oil painting and produced some
beautiful sunset paintings.
After high school, Dan worked several jobs and continued with his painting
and entering in local art shows. The job market at that time was very slow,
so at age 25, now married with a young son, Shane, he decided to enlist in
the Air force. The Military kept him quite busy. Several years went by, now
a single full-time father, he put his painting aside. In 1986, Danny married
his wife, Tammy. They moved to Alaska where they had two more children,
Trenton and Ashleigh. Then to KI Sawyer neer Marquette Michagan.
Unfortunately KI Sawyer closed in 1995. Danny's family had to move to Little
Rock Air Force Base in Arkansas.
In January of 2000, Danny began having some severe symptoms which several
doctor's first thought was Multiple Sclerosis. It has been diagnosed to be
an immune system disorder called Gulf War Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The
Veteran's Administration has service connected the illness, but only awarded
10% disability for it. Tests have not been able to determine the exact cause
of his illness. Symptoms were first noticed only three days after a
vaccination. There is agreat speculation it is due to the anthrax
vaccination. Danny was on temporary duty in Saudi Arabia twice and Kuwait
for a total of seven months. Since the beginning of his medical
diffiiculties, he picked up the paint brush once again and began flourishing
and found the love of watercolor renewed. His talent is better than ever and
he has painted over 60 pieces of artwork. His favorite medium is watercolor
and ink, because it's easy to pick-up and put down quickly, and it also
gives him the pleasure of drawing and painting at the same time. It also
inables Dan to give treat detail to his paintings.
Now, retired from the Air Force, living in Brownville, NY with his fanmily,
he works through Jefferson County Rehabilitation at Fort Drum. He and his
family love the area and the beauty it has to offer. After moving around for
20 years, Dan has no plans on moving. Danny is a strong Christian who thanks
God for giving him such a wonderful talent that he can share with so many
others.
Recently, Dan joined the Arts Association of Northern New York in Sackets
Harbor, NY, and displays some of his artwork there. He was the featured
artist in June 2005. He hopes to do some shows in Rocherter, Syracuse and
Albany in the upcoming year. Future plans are to open a small gallery at his
home this summer. He also wants to teach drawing and painting classes in his
home gallery. His printing is done by an old high school friend that also
does Leo Kuschel's prints. Dan can be e-mailed at usaf_vet_dan57@yahoo.com
or called at (315)782-1692.
Dan likes to take pictures of lighthouses from the water view. So, if you
are around the great lakes and see a man in a kayak, or out on the ice
taking pictures, it just might be Dan.
One Man Shows
North Country Artist Guild, Watertown, New York First Night, Watertown, New
York Arts Associations of Northern New York, Sackets Harbor The Whimsical
Pig Frame Shop, Watertown, New York The Seaway Trail Gift Shop, Sackets
Harbor, New York
Current Locations of Dan's Prints
Arts Associations of Northern New York, Sackets Harbor, New York Focal Point
Frame Shop, Watertown, New York The Whimsical Pig Frame Shop, Watertown, New
York The Seaway Trail Gift Shop, Sackets Harbor, New York Captin Spicer's
Gift Shop, Clayton, New York
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