Since I was a little girl playing, making mud pies decorated with tulip petals I have loved being creative. Creating art is an essential part of my life. So much a part of my life sometimes it feels like my form of oxygen. The polymer paintings I create attempt to offer surprise, inspiration, reflection, and questioning to the viewer. My intention in the paintings is to delight and inform the viewer of my message and the versatility of Polymer Clay. Painting with watercolor was my first artistic background and polymer offers the exciting possibility of dovetailing two mediums in a meaningful way in the form of sculptural paintings. The pigmented clay offers boundless possibilities to entice viewers to touch, look closely and be surprised by the medium.
The dimensional properties of polymer allow for exploration into creative designs spotlighting the manipulation of color within the clay. Often the designs and patterns are thought to be painting on the work, when in fact the clay is the paint by a technique called caning. As my journey working in the medium progresses so do my areas of interest. Current my work is exploring the uses of mixed mediums to accentuate my art and push the limits of the use of polymer in larger and moveable art.
Exhibitions:
Transit Fine Art Gallery - Featured Artist August 2013
The Gallery in Saxonburg - April 2012
Fein Art Gallery Holiday Show 2011
Art from Around the Corner Saxonburg Artist Co-Op, Oct. 2011
Planet Art Gallery - Polymer Clay Journey Nov. 2008
Fein Art Gallery Opening Show - April 2007
Pittsburgh Area Art League and Guild Shows - Award winner 2001, 2002, 2010
Television: HGTVʼs “Thatʼs Clever” - Episode HCLVR-404 2007 Bethel Park Community Television Art Exhibition - Bethel Park, PA
Digital Presence:
The Daily Polymer Arts Blog - Polymer in Flight - June 20, 2013
Polymer Clay Daily - Back to School Polymer - August 20, 2012
Viola.eu.com Polymerista of the Week - February 14, 2010
Polymer Clay Daily, Grahamʼs Polymer Clay Watercolor - June 30, 2009
www.etsy.com/shop/denisegrahamcreates
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denise_graham/
Classes: CraftArtEdu http://craftartedu.com/instructors/index/view/id/42/
To see more of Denise's work visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/denise_graham
Publications:
The Polymer Arts Magazine Fall 2013 "Fundamental Structures in Wall Art"
The Polymer Arts Magazine Summer 2013 “Mixed Media Polymer Wall Art
Polymer Cafe Magazine October 2010 Gallery Runner Up
Polymer Cafe Magazine August 2008 Vol. 6 No. 5 - Study of Shapes
National Polymer Clay Guild 2008 PolyInformer article “The Cure”
Polymer Clay Creative Traditions by Judy Belcher image
Exhibitions:
Transit Fine Art Gallery - Featured Artist August 2013
The Gallery in Saxonburg - April 2012
Fein Art Gallery Holiday Show 2011
Art from Around the Corner Saxonburg Artist Co-Op, Oct. 2011
Planet Art Gallery - Polymer Clay Journey Nov. 2008
Fein Art Gallery Opening Show - April 2007
Pittsburgh Area Art League and Guild Shows - Award winner 2001, 2002, 2010
Television:
HGTVʼs “Thatʼs Clever” - Episode HCLVR-404 2007
Bethel Park Community Television Art Exhibition - Bethel Park, PA
Digital Presence:
The Daily Polymer Arts Blog - Polymer in Flight - June 20, 2013
Polymer Clay Daily - Back to School Polymer - August 20, 2012
Viola.eu.com Polymerista of the Week - February 14, 2010
Polymer Clay Daily, Grahamʼs Polymer Clay Watercolor - June 30, 2009
www.etsy.com/shop/denisegrahamcreates
http://www.flickr.com/photos/denise_graham/
Classes: CraftArtEdu http://craftartedu.com/instructors/index/view/id/42/