Lamp Shade Doxie

You are invited to the opening reception of the Emerging Artists exhibit curated by Edna Dapo at the Phoenix Center For The Arts. My painting, Lamp Shade Doxie is included. The reception is Friday evening, December 2nd from 7 till 10pm; however the exhibit will continue through December 30th. Location is 1202 N. 3rd Street, Phoenix 85044. Call 602-254-3100 or visit the website www.phoenixcenterforthearts.org

Scarecrow Doxie

I have finally completed my last painting for this weekend’s  Artists of the Superstitions Studio Tour.   Tomorrow, I am taking all my latest works of art (which I have been keeping under wraps all summer/fall, etc.) to the beautiful studio of potter, KimmBerly Ioane. I think her vivid art pots and my pointillism paintings really compliment each other and it is our hope that others will buy both to enhance their home decor.

Speaking of homes, her’s is very hip, of avante garde industrial-design, and in a primitive area next to the base of the Superstition Mountains in Apache Junction., Arizona.  I’m so happy she asked me to exhibit at her place this year (vs. Having to organize my own studio!  Ha!  We artists tend to be a bit messy!)

My modern pointillism paintings exhibited are my Happily Working Dachshund Series of six pieces.  Each work depicts a doxie doing some sort of human or object related job to make their owners happy.  My own doxie is, of course, my muse of many colors!   I have chosen to add some contrast to this series by also including some flat hard-edge areas.  Depicted here is Scarecrow Doxie.  You must come & tell me what you think about each one!

Studio Tour maps are at http://www.artistsofthesuperstitions.com/Map_2_color.pdf  for printing!   Visit us at Studio #3 and then check out other studios nearby.  I think you will enjoy the group’s diversity and talent.

Jake & Trike

When I started this portrait, it was a straightforward shot of this little boy.  I knew I wanted to add some interest to the background.  I asked the mom, “What’s his favorite toy?”  And the Red Flyer Tricycle was her quick reply.  “Great!  It would be perfect!  Send a picture!”

Remember your first tricycle?  I wish I could!  The tricycle is typically our first venture on wheels independently.  So,  it’s a very important step in the mind of a child.

The portrait’s style of painting is a modern pointillism of circular dabs mixed with some dark identifying lines surrounding the figures.  The size is 22 x 30 x .75 inches.

I used musical rhythms to keep the dabbing process going without thought.  I found that James Brown Music is the best for dabbing!  So I rocked out in the studio for this one!  I was making some moves I didn’t know I had and singing at the top of my lungs!  My husband would stop by the studio door every now and then and say, “Are you listening to that again?”, shaking his head.  I must have listened to that CD at least a hundred times!

I feel nice!  Da da da da da da da!  Like sugar & spice!  Da da da da da da da!  So nice!  So Nice!  I got you!              James Brown

And today, it feel’s good to get the portrait shipped to it’s new home.  Hope the kid likes it when he’s a teenager…..         Da da da da da da da!

Dachshund Clothesline 36w x 24h x 1.5d

Finally, I am painting my dachshund series!  I have wanted to do this work for years.  These current paintings are inspired by my miniature dachshund Sable, soon turning twelve.  She is truly my muse and appears to think she is also human.  She loves to watch me work and paint. So, why not dream of dachshunds working odd jobs for us humans?

So, all you dachshund lovers take notice.  I love painting doxies.  If you have a dachshund that could best be honored with an unusual portrait, don’t hesitate to send a few photos and we will discuss a commissioned piece.  I would truly enjoy painting your precious doxie in my modern pointillism style.

Art Galleries:  The “Working Dachshund Series” of acrylic paintings on canvas will be available for exhibition this fall. 

Contact information:  landis@landisworks.com

1978 Corvette

There are lots of car lovers out there.  Right?

I find that when I ask a man to give me ideas for a portrait, they frequently respond, “Can you paint my car?”  Well, why not?  We do give our vehicles personalities!  Think about your first bike.  Did it have a name?  Remember the famously named sled, “Rosebud”, in Citizen Kane?  Boat lovers are notorious for naming their vessels.  If it moves and we ride it, then it will typically get a name.  So, if we personalize these inanimate objects with names such as “Bessie”, “Nelly”, or “The Tank” etc., why not consider them subjects for portraits?

This week I completed one such portrait as a commission.  The woman requesting the pointillism painting wanted it as a gift for her husband for Fathers Day.  She said,  “He would probably prefer a focus on his Corvette more so than himself”.   Surprise, surprise!  So, in gathering more details, I find that his shiny, red 1978 Corvette won an important trophy for a 25th Anniversary Corvette Competition.  She sent photos of this proud man standing handsomely in front of his Chevy winner.   More candid photos of the man and various angles of the car arrived shortly.

Rough Draft #1

After reviewing each,  I chose to create an image taking bits and pieces of several images.   I then sent rough sketches of potential portrait designs to the wife.

We decided on the Rough Draft #2 design that would include a closeup of the husband and his ‘Vette in the background.

Rough Draft #2

While working on the piece, I chose to add the 25th Anniversary symbol as another emphasis on the Corvette’s importance.

1978 Red Corvette Portrait

Today,  the completed portrait was shipped to arrive with plenty time for framing and gift-wrapping by his loving wife.  I hope he likes it.  She thinks he will!   Happy Fathers Day “Vette-Man”!

Now, I’m ready for another commission!   Email me directly should you know a special man, woman, boy, or girl who might enjoy a pointillism portrait of themselves and/or an adored vehicle.  Refer specific questions to landis@landisworks.com or in the COMMENTS below.

FYI:  Here’s John Grant after reciving his Landisworks Pointillism Portrait for Fathers Day 20011.

John Grant Corvette Pointillism Portrait

His wife writes,“John really liked the painting. I think he wants to put it at the office instead of home. If it is at the office then more people will see it.  He has pictures of the car and trophies at the office so would be a good  for conversation”.

Kissing Elvis by Denise Landis

Elvis.com is sponsoring the art contest Elvis in 1956: A Creative Celebration of Elvis’ Revolution and selected my “Kissing Elvis” pointillism portrait as one of the 56 finalists!

The winner will receive tons of prizes including a trip to 2011 Elvis Week in Memphis, tickets to Viva Elvis from Cirque Du Soliel in Vegas, and a cabin on the 2011 Elvis Cruise!

Vote for my painting!  http://www.elvis.com/revolution/gallery/landis.aspx

“Uh, thank you!  Thank you very much!”  – Elvis & me

Update 5/31/2011:  “This contest has ended.  Thanks to all who voted for my painting!”

Elvis.com Art Contest winner named: http://www.elvis.com/news/detail.aspx?id=5507

A FINE ARTS EXHIBIT

On display from May 10th – June 21st

at the ASU Gammage Performing Arts Center in Tempe, Arizona

This is the group’s third event at the Gammage.  It’s a multi-media show that includes oil, acrylic, & watercolor paintings, photography, and mixed media.  Artists include Alicia Short, Alma Kreiger, Anthony DeNunzio, Bud Heiss, Chere McKinney, Chris Morningforest, Diana Kempton, Elaine Dube, Freddie Jasper, Irene Leach, JoEllen Delcoure, Judy Koppes, Kathleen Maley, Kimberly Smith, Len Goldman, Linda Allen, Nancy Long, Pat Book, Peggy Wrobleski, Reed Kempton, Roberta Skolnik, Robin Blatell, Sherri Aldawood, Sheryl Stradling, Suzanne Tyson, and Terri MacDonald.  Go see the exhibit and let me know if you agreed with my selections for Best In Show, 1st, 2nd, & 3rd Places and 2 Honorable Mentions.   Call 480.985.0458 or 480.965.6912 for exhibit hours.

It’s a beautiful display of many skilled artists from the East Valley.

For more information about Mesa Art League and it’s artists, go to http://www.mesaartleague.com

Two of my modern pointillism paintings, Ocotillo and Scrub Junipers, in an exhibit sponsored by the Arizona Art Alliance.

Consider taking a drive out to this beautiful desert area and visit the exhibit through August 2011.

They Teach It at Stanford

An evening class at Stanford focuses on the mind-body connection – the relationship between stress and disease. The speaker (head of psychiatry at Stanford) said that one of the best things that a man could do for his health is to marry a woman, whereas for a woman, one of the best things she could do for her health was to nurture her relationships with her girlfriends.

At first everyone laughed, but he was serious.

Women connect with each other differently and provide support systems that help each other to deal with stress and difficult life experiences. Physically this quality “girlfriend time” helps us to create more serotonin – a neurotransmitter that helps combat depression and can create a general feeling of wellbeing.  Women share feelings whereas men often form relationships around activities. They rarely sit down with a buddy and talk about how they feel about certain things or how their personal lives are going.  Jobs? Yes. Sports? Yes. Cars? Yes. Fishing, hunting, golf?  Yes.  But their feelings?  Rarely.

Women do it all of the time. We share from our souls with our sisters/mothers, and evidently that is very good for our health.  He said that spending time with a friend is just as important to our general health as jogging or working out at a gym.

There’s a tendency to think that when we are “exercising” we are doing something good for our bodies, but when we are hanging out with friends, we are wasting our time and should be more productively engaged – not true.  In fact, he said that failure to create and maintain quality personal relationships with other humans is as dangerous to our physical health as smoking!

So every time you hang out to schmooze with a gal pal, just pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself for doing something good for your health! We are indeed very, very lucky. So-o-o-o-o, let’s toast to our friendships. Evidently it’s very good for our health.”

And, “thank you” to my special gal pal for sending this my way today…..