Dan Petrov

I got "the art bug" as highschool student. My parents used some connections and I got my first red passport indicating on all borders my origin behind the "iron curtain." While traveling along the major railroads of Western Europe I developed the habit of visiting museums. I was stunned with the beauty of paintings I knew only from poor reproductions. My desire to be a painter was in direct opposition to our family tradition to study law. So I studied law and finished Law School. With some strange twists of fate and political instability, I found myself in Canada. It was there, on that unexpected life detour, that I met old Italian master Mr. Sergio DePaoli. He tested my drawing and painting skills and announced that he would accept me as his student. I had a privilege to see him painting and demonstrating all the techniques and "secrets" of old masters in his studio on Ottawa Street in Windsor, Ontario.

My training with maestro DePaoli got interrupted when he decided to relocate his studio. By that time I had clear idea what skills are needed to be a professional academic painter and I started to look for a school that provided systematic classical training of painters. I found it in Minneapolis, Minnesota. "The Atelier" Studio Program of Fine Art founded by Mr. Richard Lack offered four years of studies in the best tradition of the French Academy, combined with the studio system where students are taught the elements of the craft of painting under the guidance of the master. It is a place where "the language of painting" is taught.


My family and I love Minnesota and its art community. I developed as an artist due to all the wonderful art institutions in the area and I hope that my work here will give me an opportunity to give back with my paintings and exhibitions.