Chromas
- Oil and cold wax on panel
- 28 x 20 in
- $1,600
- Denise Presnell
My current work comes from my current series I titled, "Fantastic Peculiarities". This work speaks from my inner world - a world that lay dormant for years as I learned how to navigate a neurotypical world by hiding my fear and anxiety of trying to fit in. I never felt completely comfortable in any situation - there has always been a fear of being wrong. With my artwork, I masked my neurodivergent feelings and thoughts by learning how to develop 'correct' drawing and spending decades working from the outside visible world. This work was very palatable and accepted by the 'normal' world. Deep inside myself, I never felt satisfied or fulfilled by that method of work. It wasn't expressing me - it was expressing what I thought people wanted to see.About 8 years ago, I started to move away from my representational style and moving rapidly into a purely abstract mode. I was exhilarated even though I wasn't even sure what was going on. I just knew I had found something very satisfying and I wasn't willing to turn back. Over the past couple of years, one of my children who has always suffered with what we though were mental health issues, was diagnosed with Autism and ADHD. That diagnosis explained everything. As I navigated the world of Autism and ADHD with them, I noticed something very, very familiar. Not only am I also on the spectrum, I have also been diagnosed with OCD. I had been diagnosed with generalized anxiety which turns out to be a part of the Autistic world.My current work embraces my weird world. I love developing images that are as weird as I am. It feels very honest and fulfilling. I know it appears jarring to those who want to just see a pretty picture. This doesn't stop me, I'm finally speaking with my own voice.
Bio:
Denise is a painter/mixed media artist originally from Nebraska and currently living and working in Sheboygan, WI. She earned a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln and an MFA in Painting from the Pennsylvania State University. Graduate school was followed by a career of teaching art on the college/university level at Lakeland University, Keystone College in La Plume, PA, Benedictine College in Atchison, KS and Louisiana State University – Shreveport.Denise’s artwork has been exhibited in 30 solo exhibitions and over 150 group, and competitive exhibitions across the United States as well as exhibitions in Tokyo, Botswana, Kenya, and Shanghai. She has won over 30 competitive exhibition awards.Her work is in numerous private collections in banks, hospitals, universities and a number of private businesses and homes in the United States and abroad.Denise is represented by 3 Square Art in Fort Collins, CO.
- Collections: Fragility and Fortitude