DENISE SOUZA FINNEY
EXHIBITIONS
`Taste of Ashland', 2006 Gala Event
Quick-Draw and Exhibit, April 2006
The Pomegranate Group Annual Show, Studio AB
Ashland OR, March 2006
Rogue Gallery Art Studio Tour, The Garden Studio
Ashland OR, September 24 & 25, 2005
Open Studio, The Garden Studio
Ashland OR, June 12, 2005
The Pomegranate Group Annual Show, Studio AB
Ashland OR, March 2005
The Pomegranate Group Annual Show, Studio AB
Ashland OR, March 2004
`Taste of Ashland' Exhibit, Studio AB
Ashland OR, 2003
`Taste of Ashland' Poster
Ashland OR, 2003
The Pomegranate Group Annual Show, Studio AB
Ashland OR, February 2003
`Small Treasures', The Rogue Gallery
Medford OR, November 2002
Women with Attitude Group Show, JEGA Gallery
Ashland OR, March 2002
`Private Gestures', The Pomegranate Group Show, Studio AB
Ashland OR, February 1-28, 2002
`Unveiled, Naked, Nude, Bare', Studio AB
Ashland OR, January 5-31, 2001
`Gallery Showcase' Private Studio Show
Portland OR, May 3, 1997
`The Windmill Project' The Conduit Building
Portland OR, March 1, 1997
`The New Beginning' REACH Community Development
Portland OR, February 6, 1997
The Drawing Studio's Fifth Anniversary Show
Portland OR, September 1-14, 1996
Whitworth College, Solo Exhibit
Spokane WA, October 1991-January 1992
COMMISSIONED WORK
"Pears and Fiddleheads", Eric and Stacy Poole, Ashland OR
Triptych 16"x 10", 16"x 20", 16"x 10", oil on canvas, February 2002
"Katie", Mrs. Katie Lazich, Bahia de Kino, Mexico
30"x 36", oil on canvas, January 2001
"Christy's", Mr. Jim DeCristoforo, Portland OR
20"x 24", glass, November 1996
"Roses", Ms. Alicia Ahn, Portland OR
14" diameter, glass, December 1996
"The Curious Cat", Mr. Jim DeCristoforo, Portland OR
24"x 48", glass, January 1995
ARTS RELATED EXPERIENCE
Oregon Shakesspeare Festival, Ashland OR, Chris McNamara, Shop Manager
Seasonal Costumer, January 1998-July 2004
JEGA Gallery, Ashland OR, J. Ellen Austin, Owner
Gallery Assistant, September 1997-January 1998
"From Seed to Flower", Portland State University, Portland OR, Gaia Artemisia, Teacher
Workshop Assistant, October 1996
NO LIMITS FOR WOMEN IN THE ARTS, Portland OR
Participating member June 1996-April 1997
Cheney Cowels Museum, Spokane WA
Assistant to the Registrar, September 1991-April 1992
Spokane Art School, Spokane WA
Office and Teacher Assistant, February 1992-May 1992
Art Downtown, Spokane WA
Gallery Representative, February 1992-May 1992
ARTS EDUCATION
The Garden Studio, Ashland OR Fall 1997-present
Continuing education, open figure-painting sessions
Kevin Christman Studio, Ashland OR Spring 2000-present
Continuing education, open drawing sessions
Applegate Valley Figure Drawing Workshop
Greeley Wells Studio, Applegate OR, August 27-Ausust 29, 1999
Continuing Education, Pacific Northsest College of Art
Harvy Smith, Portland OR, February 1997-May 1997
NO LIMITS FOR WOMEN IN THE ARTS
Summer Weekend Workshoop, Portland OR, May 1996
Private Class, Hipbone Studio, Jeff Burke
Portland OR, Summer 1996
Private Class, The Drawing Studio, Phil Sylvester
Portland OR, January 1995-August 1996
B.A. Art & Business, French Minor, Whitworth College
Spokane WA, December 1992
ARTIST STATEMENT
My work is a new interpretation of the figure influenced by Abstract Expressionism, Bay Area Figurative art and Minimalist sculpture and painting. I strive to create compositions that produce an emotional reaction. Detail is presented through complex paint layers consisting of gestural line and mass to create work open to individual interpretation. My use of color gives an additional layer of expression to enhance the development and sensitive content of the piece.
I am intrigued by expressing the movement and sentiment of a pose. My intention is to create a painting that is ambiguous in nature. I believe this can be achieved through the intuitive action of the gesture. It amazes me how repeating one pose numerous times presents a slightly different emotion and action with each rendering and how different viewers see the same pose differently. A more rich and mysterious work is created when the details of the paint leave opportunity for more than one meaning.
I am currently exploring two contrasting compositional approaches. The first begins with an explorative layering of brush stroke, color and paint quality, followed by painting over all but the most consequential details. In the contrasting approach, the initial application of paint is simplified to achieve a statement of implied detail which seemingly would leave more room for the viewer's interpretation. In the end, both methods achieve the same result, an ambiguous image that stimulates an open interpretation.
It is my intention to paint a picture which in some way explores my emotion and the knowledge of the world I live in. Currently, I am very interested in painting dancers, especially the Flamenco dancer. My first artistic love was dancing and I am very aware of the emotion and complex storytelling which can be expressed through dance. I discovered, however, that I have an innate feel for color and for paint and as great of a love for painting.