GREAT RIVERS ENVIRONMENTAL LAW CENTER

ON-LINE AUCTION

PICTURE PAINTED BY DAN WOODWARD

ABOUT DAN WOODWARD

              Dan Woodward is a long-time artist based in Rolla, Missouri, painting primarily in oils.  He is also a past Arts Rolla! Board member and a member of “Local Color” and the St. Louis Artists’ Guild.  As a colorist, Woodward is primarily involved with capturing the atmosphere or “air” of a scene.  Each latitude has its different light, as does each day of a season, and recreating that light seems to be his life’s ambition apart from his choice of subject matter.  He believes “The best quality an artist can cultivate is a good eye for light and color; a clear perception of the world around him.  It is a lifetime’s education; a continuing joyful process.”  He takes pleasure recording the quickly vanishing world of natural wilderness and historical identity.  His painting journey to South Africa in 2004 resulted in the inspiration for many original paintings and sketches of that mysterious and rapidly changing land.

              He is very fond of Buehler Park, and painted an existing climbing structure there in the shape of a dinosaur.  In September, 2007, he donated that picture to Great Rivers Environmental Law Center in recognition of their work on behalf of the Citizens for the Preservation of Buehler Park.  He titled the picture “A Dinosaur Saved From Extinction” to commemorate the close call this dinosaur had with destruction in the event the City of Rolla had been able to sell Buehler Park for development into restaurants.  In August, 2007, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, agreed with the Citizens’ group that the City unlawfully entered into the contract for the sale of the Park.

              Mr. Woodward’s intention was that Great Rivers auction off the picture in order to secure a donation to assist Great Rivers in its operations.  The picture is an oil painting measuring 12.5 X 14.5 inches in its frame.   Mr. Woodward believes the picture would sell for at least $800 if sold at the Kodner Gallery in Clayton, Missouri, where Mr. Woodward sells other works.  Great Rivers Environmental Law Center is extremely grateful to Mr. Woodward for his donation.