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".
There was the two weeks off, one for the cruise, the other to get ready for the cruise. Then there was the last week of school, graduation ceremonies and last day picnic. Now there is an 11 year old looking for something to do. Regardless of all of the distractions, I'm getting back to work!!
I started this with the intention of keeping the charcoal as part of the finished piece as with my buffalo charcoal with oil, but the canvas texture was not a smooth, nor did it accept the dark charcoal in any way that pleased me, so the charcoal you see here became the underpainting.
I really liked the look of the charcoal, and will do another on a smoother canvas. Up close it just wasn't what I was after.
My
first decision was the background, and it was an easy one. Black,
white and red just begs to be combined. I don't know why I haven't
done more Holsteins with red, because it's one of my favorite
combinations, so these two kids are now in front of the barn...
This is 18"x24", and is near completion. I'll be posting a final picture when it is done, taken in better light, if the San Diego June Gloom decides to let up. This photo was taken in low light, I might replace it, but you can get the idea.
I'm taking suggestions for a title, and no it can't be "Got Milk?" which is unfortunately what I keep seeing in their little expectant faces....post a comment if you have a suggestion, although a sign in is offered, you do not need to sign in to leave a comment!
In addition, I have two commissions I will be starting. One of cows on the beach, a fun concept and something different for me that I'm very excited about, and another of cows grazing, a classic scene that's always fun!
I've got two favorite new Hereford paintings, just finished. First is a classic portrait of Ranger. I've painted Ranger before, he was my bovine model for "What You See Is What You Get", an 8"x10" painting from a few years ago. Here he is close up, with every bit as much attitude as before, which I loved and is why I have chosen to paint him: This painting is 16"x20" oil on canvas. In the post below you can see some of this painting in progress in my online broadcast.
Next is one I had previously done a 6"x6" study for, and the painting is 18"x18" oil on canvas.
The red and white face cows are dominating the easel lately, next up are Holsteins.
