The Art of Denise Greenwood

Something to Say

Denise Greenwood — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:12:52 +0000

I thought that title might spark some brilliant thoughts that have been percolating since the new year began…. but my head is “muddy” from the retrieving end of a cold, & words aren’t coming easy today.

Gallery orders are coming in. This is great, it means it was a good holiday season for sales, & they need to restock. Great news for artists, too. If only there were three or four of me. I could keep one of me in the studio full time (I’d pick ME because it’s my favorite place to be), then one would be stuck with social media and marketing (is that redundant for a business owner these days?), yet another me would walk the puppy, do the shopping & run errands, cook fun, healthy meals, keep this home in drop-by company condition, meditate daily, do yoga…. o.k., it might take more than three or four of me.

My new studio is coming along, as far as getting settled in, though it’s a long way from being “dressed”. I need more inspirational bits on my wall of inspiration, & more shelves up in my kiln room. I am going to post, on my FB site, a few candid shots I took in there today, just glimpses of the space I work in. You can see them here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Art-of-Greenwood/187066704693721

I have a pretty clear idea of where I am taking my art this year. Look for bigger, more mixed-media, fun series, and titles. I have shows scheduled (so far) in Houston & Austin. More to be announced as I hear back from the juries.

Happy 2012 everyone. Remember, you do not need art to live. You need art to FEEL ALIVE!

My Featured Article in Artsyshark

Denise Greenwood — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:00:12 +0000

check out the article here

Telling My Story

Denise Greenwood — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:40:05 +0000

I get asked often what inspires or informs my work, or even (believe-it-or-not), what does my work mean.

It has taken me several years to begin to be able to put words to my story, & I still often struggle to “define” the concepts behind what I do.

My work is a bit whimsical, but I work at being dark, edgy. I try to avoid ever hearing “cute”, though I sometimes still do. My work is sculptural, with emphasis on faces & figures. I have also spent many years doing freelance work as an art director in the film industry. I have come to resent the image, or idea, that Hollywood has tried to sell us, that “normal” equates to beautiful. I grew up with a brother who has cerebral palsy (he is wheelchair confined), a learning disability, & he is deaf. I do believe “normal” is different for those of us who grew up with a handicapped sibling or other disabled family member. Who gets to decide?

I am always exploring the lines where dark & light meet, trying to form sentences about human frailty, & imperfection. Not attempting to make any sense out of life, or arguing for any particular point of view, rather, to probe the act of seeing, & of being. To look inside, past the physical, to see what there is to see, & to feed the curiosity of viewers of my work, but mostly my own. Getting a feel for life, & dancing just beyond the demarcation of what is often the dark side of who we are.

There’s a real purpose & longing in my need to write this specific story, as there is to continue reading what I have managed to get down, the characters, the setting, the plot & the conflict. If I’m only going to be here on this planet for a short time, I might as well get a feel for what it means to be here.

See what I mean by my “struggle to define” my story? It’s an ongoing process, & hard for me to view objectively. But I am nowhere near ready to stop telling it.

Thanks for listening/seeing/buying ; )

you can run, but…..

Denise Greenwood — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:24:02 +0000

So, here I am……. again…wanting to say that I’ll get better at writing my post. But, I prolly won’t…any time soon. What I have done, instead of writing here, is to spend many of my waking moments holed up in my underground-ish studio. Which is good and bad. There I go again, always treading that line where opposites connect. It fascinates me, this middle place. That is a topic for my next (maybe) blog.

Now, I am preparing for my one & only 2011 art show in New Orleans, the day after Thanksgiving. This show is invitation only, but contact me & we’ll chat if you simply must get in. I will be introducing a lot of new designs, in addition to some of the NOLA favorites. I couldn’t be more excited about this show. I love Dallas, so far, but I left my heart in South Louisiana! Oh, I have also applied to my spring shows. Fingers crossed that I can pass muster with the jurors in some really exciting cities! I’ll be posting those shows as I get my notifications. Stay tuned for that!

I have some super-duper ideas for new 2012 series, makes me want to do somersaults all the way to the studio when I think about the titles & sketches I have jotted down over the past few weeks. Funnest ever! I am also concentrating on more mixed media pieces (see the “Far Outside the Circus Gay” series in my gallery pages), with emphasis on clay as always, but going back to my metalsmithing roots. I could just whoop!

Right now, I am going to eat a satsuma! If you are not fortunate enough to live in South Louisiana (no, those “satsuma mandarins” coming out of CA don’t count!), I feel for you. These little gems are nature’s candy. I can eat them all day & be happy about it. Mmmmmmmmmm…

stay tuned….

Denise Greenwood — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 00:57:18 +0000

I have LOTS more work to post. I have to get all of the photos taken. I am hoping to be able to post lots of new pieces by Monday. Stay with me now…..

First Post

Denise Greenwood — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:01:26 +0000

This is my first post on my new blog on my completely brand spankin’ new website. So much to say, but I’m not sure where to begin.

Bryan Pritchard of Dallas, TX has done an amazing job with the new site. It’s exactly what I wanted- a more professional, less “cute” look. I could not be more thrilled.

I have been working very hard to take my artwork to a new level. So much is new this year for me & my wonderful husband, Jimmy. Gorgeous new home in a great new city. The most adorable new dog, who makes us laugh daily. Oggy has been a lot of work, but so much joy! We built a new studio & kiln room for me, which is still being set up, but I love it. Life’s amazing.

I have two upcoming shows, as you can see- Richardson & Houston. I decided to stick close to home this year, & probably in the spring of 2012 as well. Shows are a lot of work, & there are so many good ones within a few hours drive. I am rethinking my show art as well. The work is going BIG, with more mixed media pieces. I should have pictures soon.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this artist over the years! I do hope you’ll stay tuned to see what new tricks I have up my sleeve! Hope to see you at a show soon!

Please drop a line & let me know what you think of the new site!

Blue skies!