Stunning is a word that comes to mind when you look into the eyes of artist, painter and teacher, Dana Levin.

Her knowing smile, her even tone, her ability in oil painting; they are all stunning. Indeed, her work is a feast for the eye…for a mundane viewer, or a knowing lover of the fine art of oil painting.

A Miami native, and recent Providence transplant, she received her undergrad degree from the School of Art Institute of Chicago (class of '84), where she was influenced by the German Expressionist School, Max Beckman in particular. In an almost colorist primitivism, to the untrained eye it can seem recklessly experimental while being representative at the same time. That too would pass.

Like many painters, Dana was looking to move on to higher ground with a more sophisticated approach… which brought her to, Florence, Italy. This painter’s dream came true, studying at the Florence Academy of Art under master American painter, Daniel Graves and then to teaching there as well. In all, Levin studied 3 years and then taught 5 years. Few local painters are capable of understanding, let alone demonstrating, such a keen grasp on the authentic school of “Classical Realism.” Dana Levin's work is delightfully filled with atmosphere, mystery and nuance. Whether figurative or still-life or interior works, all work from bases of mood, light and delicacy… a painter's painter. I believe it was Chairman Mao who once said, “No investigation; no right to speak.”

Levin's serious years of preparation and study have paid off and enabled her onto a pathway of brilliance and accomplishment. In a simple and direct way her works are deeply psychological and warmly intimate. Dana Levin owns, operates and teacher's at her studio school, The New School of Classical Art, 545 Pawtucket Ave, in Pawtucket, RI, where she teaches 5 days a week from 9a.m. to 4p.m. with live models 3 hours daily. Visit danalevin.com Her work is available for viewing at Eleanor Ettington Gallery in New York City or the Bert Gallery in Providence. The Portsmouth Art Guild invited me to speak there in March. The rest of the time I'll be playing on the floor with my infant son Arcangelo making loud drum, keyboard and ukulele noises while singing strange incantations... I'll see ya on the flip side.