About the Artist

Dean Walker

Dean Walker is a professional artist who lives in Georgia, Northern Michigan and Chicago.  He is a Signature Member of the Pastel Society of America and a graduate of the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he studied under the Master Watercolorist, Irving Shapiro.

Dean worked in the graphic arts business in Chicago for over 20 years.  At the same time, he exhibited his watercolors in local art fairs where he won numerous awards.  After losing his sight in his left eye in 2003, and looking for a creative change and new inspiration, Dean returned to his childhood medium - pastels.  Pastels allowed him to apply the medium directly to compensate for his impaired depth perception that made it difficult to use a brush with precision. Dean’s art soon began to attract notice and win competitions.

In 2003, Dean moved with his family to Bermuda.  While in Bermuda, he was able to launch a successful career as a full-time artist.  Bermuda is a strikingly beautiful island with lush foliage, aqua water and pink beaches surrounding picturesque coves.  Dean’s paintings during this period capture and unique beauty of Bermuda.  In 2012, Dean and his family traveled for a year to South America, Australasia, Asia, India and Africa.  After settling back in Chicago in 2013, Dean created a collection of paintings that captures the landscapes, people and animals of the world. Dean has also traveled extensively in the U.S. National Parks and enjoys painting the diverse beauty of the most beautiful places in the country.

The body does a wonderful job of adapting and, over time, Dean's depth perception has drastically improved. This has allowed him to once again take brush to paper or canvas with a high degree of accuracy.  With this new found freedom, he has begun to work in acrylics on canvas.  Why acrylic and not oils?  Watercolor and pastels conditioned him to paint quickly and not labor over his work.  He has found that acrylics can be applied in a similar quick fashion.

In 2023, Dean moved to the Landings in Georgia. With its beautiful marshes, majestic live oaks and abundant wildlife, the coastal Low Country offers an exciting creative opportunity that Dean looks forward to exploring.