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Dan Zdilla

@dzdilla

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“The Birdwatcher”
This portrait of @christiancooperbirder is my entry into the 2025 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition for the National Portrait Gallery. Here is my 1000 character artist statement if you care to read it (wow 1000 characters isn’t very much for a compelling statement.)

As always it’s made of nothing but National Geographic Magazines and Glue. 20”x27”

-Christian Cooper came into the public consciousness from the viral video of the Central Park birdwatching incident. He has since used the notoriety from this event to create a platform of inspirational advocacy for birding, especially among people of color. His connection with the natural world, as well as his association with National Geographic, make him an ideal subject for my portrait collage, as I work exclusively with National Geographic magazines.

In my work, I deconstruct imagery into fundamental bits of formal elements like color, value and texture and reassemble them into new images. I feel a kinship with Cooper, who has taken an incident with its own context and history, and repurposed it into something new and beautiful. Although my technique is essentially ‘painting’ with paper, no actual paint is used, only cut and glued paper.
I recreated a bird watching experience by hiding birds in the portrait, including Cooper’s favorite upon his head, the Blackburnian Warbler.

#bird #birder #birding #birdwatching #blackburnianwarbler #warbler #bluebird #portrait #sketch #collage #art #collageart #contemporaryart #NationalGeographicMagazinesandglue #nationalgeographic #nationalgeographics #somanynationalgeographics taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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3 years ago

Self portrait.
I like using photos of sunsets for most of my skin tones. I was able to use an image of a smoky sunset through a tree fire for the beard scruff.
As always it’s made of nothing but National Geographic Magazines and Glue. 8”x10”

#portrait #selfportrait #skinbox #collage #art #collageart #contemporaryart #NationalGeographicMagazinesandglue #nationalgeographic #nationalgeographics #somanynationalgeographics taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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3 years ago

After a few years of longer runs i finally ponied up and ran a full marathon. It literally rained the entire time and poured the second half but I feel great and thank you Scranton for giving this Slovak warm pierogies at the finish line.😍
And thanks to my ride or die running bud @thebestjeremy taken in Scranton, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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7 days ago

I love when people send me pictures of my originals or prints hanging in their natural habitat. My “Phanatical Devotion” print series in the wild.
Let me know if you’re looking to check any Phillies fans off the Christmas list!
8x10 to slip into an easy store-bought frame $50 each taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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11 days ago

Derek and Dan spent a few hours toiling in the diorama mines last night. We are doing a trick-or-treat diorama for October (duh). We made these 12 Halloweeners and think we need about 12 more. Start shooting us your ideas!
Don’t forget to go to www.thedioramaclub.com to sign up for your monthly mailing. taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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12 days ago

Julius the cat contemplating his portrait. I made this commission last year. It was a fun way to do something different than a typical pet portrait. I think he likes it.
As always National Geographics and glue.
#collage #collageart taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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19 days ago

Diorama club is a monthly snail mail club that has a focused theme on a specific monthly special. This month is back to school. Where each diorama club member will receive a massive Bart Simpson sticker. Print of our back to school diorama club diorama. A handwritten letter. And this month‘s extra special is Dan The scissor wizard. Thanks so much to Sam Burough for his undying love and devotion to diorama club. If you are interested in things that are interesting. Get signed up for diorama club before the end of the month and you too can celebrate this back-to-school special.#punk #artist #art #weird #origionalart taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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21 days ago

Work in progress.
#wip #collage #birdofparadise #annunciation taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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a month ago

The September diorama club mailing will have a “Dan the Scissor Wizard” Garbage Pail Kid Card made by the amazing @sam.barugh.
A great companion piece to DIY Derek. Never try to make a video with a giggly nine-year-old as your Camera person.
www.thedioramaclub.com taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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a month ago

Sketch for an art trade.
#art #sketch #collage taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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a month ago

Let me talk at you about a collage I made.
Why, yes it is for sale!
12”x16” framed
Dm me if interested.
Prints available for $50.

#thesimpsons #collage #collageart #art taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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a month ago

SEPTEMBER DIO REVEAL! BACK TO SCHOOL 🚌🚌🚌
Go to www.thedioramaclub.com to sign up! Lots of cool stuff coming in this month’s mailing. taken in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by @dzdilla

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a month ago