Denise Hawkins
Cheyenne, Wy
Wyoming photographer capturing the extraordinary in the ordinary in landscapes and nature throughout the Mountain West region.
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EDUCATION
Regis University, Denver, CO
Bachelor of Science, marketing, magna cum laude - 2009
Sheridan College, Sheridan, WY
Associate of Applied Science, Drafting 1991
Sheridan College, Sheridan, WY
Associate of Fine Art, Art, 1990
SKILLS
Photography: From roots based in film and darkrooms during high school and college comes a deep passion for art, landscape, and portrait photography. Continuing education includes Paul Nicklen Masterclass, completed in 2024.
Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced user of several creative suite apps including Lightroom, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Output includes a variety of collateral materials for design projects including signage, newsletters, brochures, booklets, business cards, and more.
Book Design: In 2012 and 2015, I helped a local author produce two 300+ page hardcover books. Work included layout, editing, photo editing, map creation, typesetting, and assisting the author with self-publishing and marketing.
Awards, Affiliations, Certificates
Best Photograph, 43rd Annual Western Spirit Art Show and Sale, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum, 2024: Miner’s Boots
Governor’s Choice Award and Capitol Art Collection Purchase Award, Governor’s Capitol Art Exhibition, Cheyenne, Wyoming, 2024: Sunset Calm
Best of Show, Art on Main, Brigham City, Utah, 2023: Winter Lean
First Place, Art on Main, Brigham City, Utah, 2023: The Watering Trough
First Place in Photography, St. George Art Festival, 2023: Jackson Reservoir Sunset (renamed: Sunset Calm)
Second Place in Photography, 48th International Art Show, Brownsville, TX, 2023: Morning Stillness and Smoke
International Catholic Stewardship Council (ICSC) Annual Appeal Brochure Award, 2019
Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge Certification, 2016
Laramie County 4H Silver Clover Award, 2011
Alpha Sigma Nu member (Regis University Jesuit Honor Society), 2009
Statement
Denise’s artistic journey over the last 10 years has been the result of a near-death health crisis and recovery. As a result of her health challenge, her very outdoor-active lifestyle was curtailed for a time. During her recovery, she picked up her camera as a way to get outside again while validating a yearning for artistic expression.
Denise’s current photographic style, centered around landscapes, nature, and often abandoned architecture, is based on her emotional response to visual composition. A unique weather condition that changes the landscape, an animal in a unique setting or responding to its environment in an unexpected way, or an undisturbed abandoned structure or vehicle are the compositions that interest her most. Accentuated with natural lighting, timing, and strong compositional values, these scenes and snippets of time are made permanent. Denise is also especially drawn to patterns, symmetry, and line elements.
Her work is varied in subject but singular in its goal of depicting the harsh beauty as well as the fascinating decay of common and uncommon sights and sites in the Western United States. Denise’s travels and explorations frequently take her around the states of Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, and western Nebraska.
Denise earned an Associate of Arts degree in Fine Art and an Associate of Applied Science degree in Drafting at Sheridan College in Sheridan, Wyoming. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Regis University in Denver, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Denise’s imagery is gaining attention and some recent awards on the national stage through exhibits and art festivals.