Artist Biography Born in Wisconsin, 1983. Denise demonstrated her passion for creating at an early age. Bedroom walls and the bricks in the basement were transformed into canvases, and she spent countless hours sculpting tiny animal figurines from play dough. These activities set her on a course that would eventually lead to procuring a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Middle Tennessee State University. At MTSU, Denise explored a variety of media and creative processes including, welding, wood sculpture, and casting in bronze, resin, and plaster. In addition, Denise devoted much time to the study of oil and acrylic painting. As a result of her formal training in representational oil at MTSU, Denise continues to explore portraiture, enjoying the challenge of being able to capture her subject.

Artist Statement 2009 Denise is inspired by random moments and how they leave a lasting impression on an individual. Also, the subjective nature of memory is an important concept the artist explores. Often the actual event is less colorful then the associated memory. The mental embellishments breathe life into human experience. Denise’s technique references the random aspects of life and the importance of memory. Paint is applied at random to a white surface where it reacts to gravity, much like human interaction with natural laws. Furthermore, the artist references the phenomenon of memory by intentional lines and finite details. These details maintain slightly random elements, but are more deliberate—like memory that reflects an actual event, but can be constructed. The mind is often selective with memories, and there are many other factors that affect our concept of the actual event. Similarly, the wood texture and the chance patterns of paint are often springboard for new compositions, which are discovered as the painting evolves. Consequently, Denise’s art addresses the beauty of significant moments and the transforming power of memory.