Daniel Lee Arensmeier

Daniel Arensmeier was born in Roseberg, Oregon. He left this planet in the early morning hours of June 9th from his home in Denver Colorado, his wife Mary at his side. He was 88 years young.

Dan was a Renaissance man--enjoying life with gusto. His experience in the Old West marked him with a love of the Outback, of horses, and of nature. He intended pursuing a fine arts career when he graduated from the University of Oregon, but making a living got in the way. Thirty years ago, he returned to his old love of painting. He also had to rediscover his voice, and he did it with a “roar”! He loved storytelling, and his experiences were colorful enough to support those grand tales.

His biggest passions in life were, however, his art and learning about great art and artists. Of his wide range of close friends, many were artists. He painted massive canvases not only in size but in thematic content. His approach was abstract expressionism. Color was center stage and Fauvist in nature. He designed the paint schemes for the airplanes of Nature Air in Costa Rica. His first one-man show was in 2001, and today his art is found in private collections all over the world. His last commission was hung in Costa Rica in May.

He studied two-dimensional art under Manual Izquierdo, the dialogue between shapes, color and texture under Quang Ho, abstract impressionism under Dale Chisman, and poster art under John Sorbe. He continued to visit every museum and gallery he could access.

Dan is survived by his wife of almost thirty years, Mary Baum, daughter Lisa Blake, and granddaughters Bailey and Callan Reid who are artists because of his influence. He is also survived by his son Rik Arensmeier, wife Niki, grandchildren Daniel, Samual, and Katie Arensmeier, and a great granddaughter Kai Rae Arensmeier.

An art exhibit will be held at a future date in remembrance of his long passion—his art. He would have loved this idea.