The Beaten Path Portfolio (2016)

The Beaten Path series serves as Dylan's comprehensive meditation on American travel and observation, where he explores the United States by finding beauty in locations that form the backdrop of daily life for most citizens. Each work contributes to his broader narrative philosophy that historical preservation is essential to understanding America's trajectory.

The collection demonstrates Dylan's commitment to depicting America as experienced while travelling back roads rather than following conventional tourist routes: local favourite restaurants and cafes, roadside motels, phone boxes, and even a car wash. His watercolour technique employs loose, broken brushwork reminiscent of French Impressionist methods, allowing each colour to maintain its independence while capturing the vibrancy of his chosen landscapes. The portfolio format captures Dylan’s persona as a travelling observer, documenting his decades of touring across the country. In Dylan’s hands, everyday American locations become compelling visual stories, revealing the extraordinary within the ordinary.