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Denice Lewis' paintings are kick
ass. There is life in them. Often with
abstract expressionist art there is an "unresolved" quality to the
work--a lot of 'Look at my talent--I'll show you my skill'. Ms Lewis
shows you
what she KNOWS. Rather than feeling that she has lead us to a place of
her
design, we feel that her life experience has pulled from her a secret
that she
now feels compelled to share with us. Each painting seems to complete
an idea
or emotion. While certainly impressive, the work is--more
importantly--satisfying. She makes paint seem to move, usually in our
direction. Her "hard work" never shows--only her pleasure at
discovering a new thing, which, at once, becomes ours. Sometimes, she
makes you
feel sort of like you're seeing color for the first time. You feel like
your
eyes have opened a little wider--as if, instead of a canvass, she has
painted
on light. When she wants to, she has the ability to make you feel good,
like
hope itself. Ms Lewis delivers generously--like an explorer who has
returned
from a long journey with something living, something new, something for
you.
Bill |
Hi Denice, I have to
tell you that I did enjoy a lot your art. I like
your colors. Especially the one that you named ''Holy''. It reminds me
the
sentence of Helen Keller: ''The most beautiful things in the world can
neither
be seen nor touched, just felt in the heart'' It provides a nice
contrast to
the real world. SELF-FULFILLMENT and PEACE OF MIND. I think this is the
key of expression
in art no matter what you use to express it. I have read also your
biography. I
wish I could share a longer discussion with you about it. Age is
a very
high price to pay for maturity, and we all pay that. I am very happy
that you
find your path in arts and god saved you somehow from the life you used
to
experience before, donated and enabled you to share all the beauty of
your
heart with the rest of the world, and at the end with me that I am
thousands of
km's far from you! There is saying around here, it says that: ''If you
want to
let built a wooden boat for your self, do not wait others to go to a
forest and
cut wood hours and hours for you. Instead, try to inspire in them the
memories
of open seas if you can. That will be much easier!'' Though distance
may keep
us apart, you are embedded deep within my heart with the ''HOLY'' art
of yours. Thanks, |
Being a media and fashion illiterate
I'm probably the only person in the world who hasn't heard of the star
spangled
career of DL. Well, I was idly looking through the Saatchi
gallery when I was
knocked sideways by a group of paintings that breathed with life,
vitality,
poise, serenity and utter beauty and I fell
in love with them
straightaway. When I actually read about how she produced her tribute
paintings
I was both asonished and moved...what a totally beautiful thing to do.
Thank
you Denice for the wonder and sincerity of your work..
Phillip-painter |
Chère Denice,
I am maybe a neo-romantic attracted by an image, and nostalgic of an era where aristocracy and artists were learning from each others. So, I was saying that your jolie frimoussse attracted me like butterfly on light, and made me dream of a relation comme the writer Balzac had with la contesse Madame Hanska… …so an illusion, because aujoud’hui is it possible? Jean Francois |
DAILY BUDDIST WISDOM In my own experience, the period of
greatest gain in knowledge and experienceis the most difficult period
in one's life. Through a difficult period, you can learn, you can
develop inner strength, determination, and courage to face the problem.
Who gives you this chance? Your enemy.
|
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Denice,
There was an excerpt from a book by Julia Cameron in a blog that I read one morning while surfing the net (like so many things in my life I just woke up wondering what blogs were and ended up looking at one by an cartoonist that quoted her book). It said “Creativity is not a product of ego, but rather a function of the Soul"... That really says it all for me and I'll bet you too. Your verse from the Bob Dylan song also resonated with me "She's an artist, she has everything she wants, she don't look back". It's always been my nature to question our existence and why we are Who we are so verses like those help to answer that for me.. If not creating something my life is dry and without purpose but as long as I can 'make' anything I'm happy. It's a hard thing for non-creative people to understand but it truly is a function of the soul. I could go on an on about that one but you know what I mean... Denice Langley |
I
saw your link to your personal webpage and looked at your abstract
work. Very interesting stuff. I really liked that you have very clear
images of the work to see all the great texture in all the pieces. The
remembrance series I think is also a great idea. What a way to remember
people! It's how I would want to be remembered. Take care. Stickman |
Hi Denice! I found your art work a fascinating idea! How
creative and at the
same time so meaningful to those left behind. What a great service you
have
been able to create with your artistic expression. I'm not THAT
artistic,
however, I can really appreciate art itself. I suppose we all have some
sort of
artistic expression in some way. I often think of surfing as an art
form more
so that a sport. It was great to meet you and thanks for the gracious
e-mail
back.
Aloha for now, Jungle :) |
Hi Denice,
I don’t know, if you remember who I am? Hopefully, you do. We me at “La Belle Epoque” Just want to drop you a brief note and see how you are doing? I did visit your website, and I have to tell you that in reading your poems, especially “Mom” brought tears to my heart. You are a beautiful soul, and I am honored to have met you. I don’t want to take up too much of your precious time. Give a buzz sometime, beautiful. Con mucho carino, Dolores M. Garcia |
In regard
to your work - it is
gorgeous!! I think that everything you have on your website is
wonderful,
inspiring, and uplifting. I have found over the past two years,
more than any
other time in my life, that creative people feed my soul and help
reaffirm my
convictions to keep beauty in my life and the lives of others. I
am an
interior designer and midnight (!) artist myself, and somehow whether I
am the
one doing the work, or I am looking at that done by others, it has
helped keep
me alive. I do not know
what kind of health
struggles you have gone through exactly, or are still dealing with, but
I wish
you well and thank you so much for taking the time to read this!
I look
forward to returning to your site regularly and seeing what beautiful
things
you add to it in the future. Have a great day! Much love, |
Gosh,
Denice, your web site is simply
amazing. I had no idea you had so much creative juices flowing from
within.
Your tribute art reflects one's life
by extending intense
energy and memories into the spirit of the soul. You've
achieved a remarkable
accomplishment by mixing ashes
and beautiful colors together. Your paintings are
quite
expressive and inspirational. Your heart is touched by
God which
is an extraordinary gift to be able to give to
others. Thank
you so much for sharing your
website with me. Thanks for being the bubbly person you are. Listen, I
can't
wait to finally meet you and catch glimpses of your outstanding works
of art. I'll
be home tomorrow. It's a day off
I've decided to take for myself. Yes, even I get sick of issuing
tickets from
time to time. lol So you'll know where to me after I take the kids to
school in
the morning.. Good Night. |
Hi, Thanks
again and if you have time e-mail me |
True Beauty , Wanted to tell the world how I was
blessed
in past few days to have gotten to know a very special lady who shows
what true beauty is . True beauty is indeed spiritual, God given and
comes from the inside out and not the opposite way that society tends
to want it to appear. Denice, in a true showing of courage, is
taking us
to a new level of understanding about ourselves as well as our past and
future aquaintances, trying to also battle day to day physical
challenges that we could not imagine plague people on a daily basis
hour to hour with varying symptoms. I am in health care and have
seen
hundreds of people fight the battle she has taken on with courage,
honor and respect for all suffering individuals with fibromyalgia. God
bless her and her work as well as trying to help us realize that in
death they are not gone, just in another plane of existance. Most of
all helping us to realize that their spirit is always with us and we
shall all meet again if we beleive and have faith in our dear GOD and
his son who died 2 milliniuem plus ago, but is not forgotten
or away
from us just like our loved ones who pass before us. Life is but a
blink of an eye in eternity, but the good acts as well as not so
good
can live forever, especially in art works, and poetry. God bless you
beautiful
lady for all the good you are accomplishing on so many levels. From the
heart of a health care worker.
Douglas Sharkey
|
Your art is amazing!!! I was thinking about you recently. I guess not having the sense to spend more time getting to know you was one of the dumber mistakes I've made in my life. I'm so glad to hear that you're doing well, and that your physical issues may be going better, and to see your wonderful creativity. God
Bless. |
I am very moved by your
creations. Does one need a source of pain to deliver true art? Your
"Antares Heart" is stunning. To me it was a glimpse of
a universe. Both filled of complete darkness...and a very strong
belief in a heaven, something godlike. I am very passionate about the
universe, myself. So the vision and idea of a universe filled of longings and glimpses of grief, wow. Such a
beautiful thing... Olle |
I don't imagine you remember me. I met you one afternoon for a few drinks and laughs after leaving you to wait for me for hours. Temporarily directionally challenged. Well you inspired me and God willing you'll see a novel out before too long, the kernel of which was formed from an idea from your life. I think about you often as a result...Best of luck with all you're doing. |
I just couldn't stand up from my chair
and not tell you at least, something! I am listening to my super-mega-coolest-
sweet husband playing guitar with two other friends. And it sounds so
good, that their music inspired me. Watching your colors, and reading a
little
bit of your life. You have the energy that comes from some other place,
right here, but a little bit higher,
a good one, a plain one, you are different. Ok, I am the Argentinean girl that you met this morning at "Blue Rooster" (art store), and I came home
thinking in you, in your eyes. They look deeper. That's good. I felt so
connected with you in the way you tell stories. It is so funny telling you all
this things and maybe you are thinking "What happens with this girl?".
Happens that you make people feel motivated to express and write to you!
You are strong and hard things come followed with the good ones and surprises you are having always. You have all that experience inside your mind that your creativity explores always the way you surprise yourself. Good work, I liked it so much. I didn't even know you were that "super-model" girl! Good luck with your red paint. That will inspire you so much, because there, you can spread all your passion for life.
|
I'm so impressed by your art I would love to have some of it. This is surprising, since I find so much abstract art to be cerebral. Your work expresses passion, and in a balanced way. It's the sort of art that would be appropriate for either a home or gallery. There are no trendy 'gimmicks'. I don't know how to describe it, but it feels tastefully provocative. |
Your website is wonderful and your work is most beautiful. and you could charm the birds out of the trees with your articulate thoughts. |
Your paintings display an amazing energy that radiate mythical, almost archetypal or aboriginal imagery. I would think you would be both exhilarated and exhausted at the completion of each of these creations. It seems as if you are a conduit or channel of the profound power of collective consciousness filtered through either your empathy for others or your own personal experience, depending upon the subject of each image. I know intimately the joy of union and transcendence during peaks of musical performance or at times of deep awareness when in nature, and I am so pleased to hear of you having these experiences and viewing the outpouring of these moments onto your canvas. For years, I was a serious amateur landscape/nature photographer, and you have inspired me to renew this direction. |
I just
finished reading your
entire web site, and I have to say it was an surprisingly spiritual
experience .... seriously, you are amazing, simply and truly amazing in
what you do. I would love to hear about the debilitating diseases that
you speak of? Your art is so genuine and real, and seems to exude such
a passion of your soul ... I just love it ... your writings are very
interesting to me due to my own, less professional writing. After reading all of your web site, my first response was is she real ... ?? And then I realized yes she has to be real----you nut, she has a web site ... Then I reflected how I would love to view more of her art. I loved your magazine photos of course, but the best photo of all was the one from the home page of your web site ... so real ... amazing! |
I
am a
bit overwhelmed
by your website....I feel so much passion for life as I read your
poetry, your journal, and saw your paintings...incredible woman that
you are! I must admit that when I first read about mixing the ashes of your friend's mother to help create a celebration of her life...I was a little "taken back"...not in a bad way, just more like "wow...how does that feel to me"....you know, like I was checking in with my feelings about it... I then started to feel the significance of such a creative and loving endeavor, and can honestly see and feel the beauty in your work. It seems to me the utmost in loving remembrance of a loved one...to create something beautiful from the physical essence of one's body as their soul departs the earthy vessel they have resided in for this particular stay on earth...wow. |
What a beautiful web site. You have an amazing set of talents. I see the passion and power in your work. You also write intuitively and insightfully. I am sure that much inspires you but do you draw your strength from any particular source? |
Thank you for the link to your website....all I can say is OH MY GOD YOU'RE COOL!!!!!!! I can't believe your art...how unique and interesting....it is such a great idea....I mean.... a painting has life of its own but by mixing a loved ones ashes with the paint....you give so much more meaning to the piece..... |
Reading your website -- your poems, your amazing idea for the "Tribute” art -- you have a really wonderful spirit, Denice; I'm impressed when people apply a searching spirituality to their life and work. |
The
idea of using personal remains for
lasting tribute or memorial art is nothing new. Hair was a
popular early media as it was a symbol of life because it did not
decompose after death. Tombs in Egypt exhibit paintings portraying pharaohs and queens exchanging hair balls as tokens of everlasting love. Indian women in Mexico kept locks of hair in a special jar to be buried with them so their soul would not tire from looking for missing parts and thus delay their passage to the other world. Hair art reached its peak in the late 1800’s in Victorian England, where mourners often wore jewelry made from their loved one’s hair as a memorial and constant reminder of their lives together. The most popular form of Victorian mourning jewelry took a lock of hair and wove it into knot designs for use in broaches. Rings, bracelets, earrings, watch fobs and necklaces were also common mourning hair art forms. Here in America, during the Civil War, soldiers would leave a lock of their hair with their families before going off to battle. Upon the soldier’s death, the hair often was made into mourning jewelry or placed in a locket. Today, the Yanaomami Indians of the Venezuelan and Brazil border region suspend their dead in trees until the bones are picked clean. The bones are then charred, or cremated, and ground into a fine powder. The ashes are then spread onto sacred areas or made into a drink with chica, a fermented beer made from bananas, and ingested by relatives of the deceased to confer immortality on them. |