I decided yesterday that I needed some fresh photos of Holsteins for
painting reference, so off to the local dairy I went. We have
been getting so much rain in San Diego, that halfway down the
rut-riddled road I ran into a rushing river where the road had been
washed out. I am not a brave driver, so I turned around and
decided to visit holstein heaven another day.
Off to the local high school agriculture department. I had heard
they have livestock, pigs in particular, and I have been dying for
photos of pigs to work from. Not pot bellied pigs, but a big pink
farm sow type of pig. I spied some students who told me where the
animals were kept, and off I went camera in hand.
After about 20 minutes of breathing through my mouth to avoid the
stench of pig poop and snapping whatever photos I could of young pigs
in pens, I decided it was enough and headed back to the
car. I was intercepted by a man who looked at me like I was
involved in some kind of secret porcine espionage scheme, and had me
follow him to the office. I understand that I should get
permission to be on campus. Oops. On the way home I
realized that I would not be wearing my shoes into the house.
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Best known for her bovine renditions, with unique compositions and contemporary views, Denise has combined her love of animals and art in oil for the past 20 years.
Denise's focus for the past several years has been cows because "Cows make me smile. I seriously can't look at one and hold back a smile. I don't just see an animal, I see a personality, and that is what I am working to present in my paintings of cows." In 2006 Denise received a commission from the California Milk Advisory Board to paint their famous Happy Cows of the Real California Milk campaign. This led to becoming "The Official Happy Cow Artist", as seen on their website.
Her creative process begins with field work, taking reference photos. Cows being a favorite subject means "field work" can be taken literally, and involves careful stepping!
With a signature "painterly realism" style Denise breathes life
into her subjects, often bringing viewer comments of how "you could just reach out and touch them" and "I expect them to mooo".
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Questions, Comments?
This Month
Month Archive
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Friday, February 25
getting art worthy photos, through rain,sleet and pig poop
by
therichartist
on Fri 25 Feb 2005 08:34 PM PST
Monday, February 21
"her favorite pillow" or "W. C. Fields Nightmare"
by
therichartist
on Mon 21 Feb 2005 12:30 PM PST
My most recent work is very near and dear to my heart. As I like
to say, they look just like angels when they are sleeping, and that
applies to the four legged trash eater as well as the beautiful child.
Where the dog is concerned, it isn't a rare occurance, and I could probably paint her from life as she sleeps most of the time. The child on the other hand can outlast everyone in the family, so the immortalized in oil image is a special one. When considering a title for the piece two thoughts were recurring: the incredible amount of cuteness and sweetness in the painting and a quote by W. C. Fields, "anyone who hates kids and dogs can't be all bad". This painting is 11 by 14 inches of domestic tranquility. This painting is sold.
"save a horse, ride a fat boy"
by
therichartist
on Mon 21 Feb 2005 12:03 PM PST
Recently I was with a friend who played the song "save a horse, (ride a
cowboy)", and although I am not especially fond of country music, I
have to admit it is catchy. Maybe too catchy, as when it came
time to name one of my latest paintings, a Harley Davidson Fat Boy
composition, all I could think of was "save a horse, ride a fat boy".
This is a big painting in a small package, 8 inches by 8 inches, sounds small but really isn't considering the statement it makes. This painting is sold. |
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