Born in 1946 in Philadelphia, Dennis Wentworth Porter graduated with honors from the Santa Barbara Institute of Art (Brooks) in 1974, studying with Robert Frame, Ray Strong of the California School and abstract expressionist James Jarvace.
Porter was primarily influenced by Sargent, Cezanne, Monet and the American abstract expressionists of the 50’s and 60’s. After Brooks, he taught, painted and lectured throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Using loose, abstracted strokes to achieve realistic impact, Porter is known for his large format oils and richly pigmented pastels.
For over 40 years Porter painted the Pacific Northwest, coastal California and the American Southwest, living in Jerome, Arizona, Taos, New Mexico, and Santa Barbara, California. In 1993, he moved his studio to San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, where he helped form what is currently a vibrant Art District. Internationally collected, he has exhibited in prestigious galleries in Beverly Hills, Sedona, Scottsdale, Santa Fe, and San Jose del Cabo. His corporate collectors include Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Honeywell and Johnsonville Farms amongst many others. His recent work features both Pacific Northwest and Mexican subjects as well as those from his travels abroad.