Desmond O'Hagan (Advertising Design 1982, Hall of Fame 1998)

Desmond O’Hagan is enjoying and employing the best of both worlds: business and art. A 1982 graduate in Advertising Design, he made the leap from corporate America to full-time fine artist almost 20 years ago, but was still able to utilize his advertising experience to promote his paintings. The successful switch not only made an impact on the art world, but also gained the attention of The Art Institute of Colorado community. He was voted into the school’s elite Hall of Fame in 1998. Today, he works in several media with a primary focus in pastels and oils, and he is a Master Pastelist with the Pastel Society of America. Represented by numerous galleries across the country, most recently he was featured at a one-man show at the E.S. Lawrence Gallery in Aspen, Colorado. What does it take to go from corporate to creative on a full-time basis?

“My advice for alumni who might be considering a career in fine art would be to rely heavily on the work discipline developed in the commercial art world,” says Desmond. “Being able to come up with ideas quickly, designing your own promotional material, working under deadlines and successfully conducting business with clients are all very crucial in the fine art world as well. When I'm painting, I'm only concerned about subject, technique and the enjoyment of the painting process. When the painting is finished, I switch jobs and then am concerned about promoting and marketing the paintings. Regardless of how much I enjoy painting, I still have to be in control of the business side to be successful.”

While believing that originality in selecting subject matter is an essential ingredient to produce art that is fresh and spontaneous, Desmond also insists that each of his paintings exhibits artistic fundamentals such as sound structure, exciting design and harmonious color. He is versatile enough to paint any subject, and employs a wide range — from figurative and landscapes to scenes of the city.

The subject of national and international magazine articles, Desmond has participated in many group and one-man shows in the United StatesS, Japan, China and France. He is listed in Who's Who in American Art and his artwork has been included in international books, as well as shown in several private and corporate collections both nationally and internationally. He also conducts workshops and sells work at his studio in Denver. For more information, visit: www.desmondohagan.com.