Denise Livingston

Acrylics & Collage Ephemera.  April 2013.

I can't take credit for the idea for this piece.  I saw something like it at Cost Plus World Market and thought to myself, "I can paint that myself and do it my way!"  That is the exciting thing about becoming an artist:  when you realize you can manipulate a medium the way you want it to be conveyed.  I'll probably do some more like this in the future since it was so fun!

Oilsticks & Collage Ephemera.  April 2013.

Here is a self-portrait I painted with Shiva oil sticks. They are different from oil pastels because they are about 4" x 3/4" big! So, it is challenging to get too detailed-which is a good thing for me. The really cool thing about the oil sticks are that it feels like you are painting with butter, they are so smooth!!

Soft pastels.  January 2013.

I did this portrait with soft pastels on very fine black sand paper.  I loved working with the soft pastels even more than the hard pastels!  

Logo Design.  April 2011.

My 25th high school reunion is coming up this summer! I offered to design the logo. Here it is so far. Why the olympic rings, you might ask? Because we are the Gateway OLYMPIANS, that's why!!

Soft pastels.  January 2013.

Acrylics & Collage Ephemera.  August 2012.

I've been dabbling with this poppy painting during the summer.  I'm pleased with how it turned out!  I was kind of going for a botanical illustration look.  I've always loved poppies and just recently I found out that poppies are the flowers of remembrance.  :0) 

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  October 2012.

Dragonflies hold a very special meaning to me.  Similar to the butterfly, the dragonfly represents evolving, understanding a deeper meaning of life.

Acrylics.  April 2012.

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  February 2012.

Inspired by my previous art journal piece "Fly", I decided to try my hand at painting a sparrow instead of stenciling it.  I started out with collaging old papers, some stenciling (#s and circles) and different layers of paint.  I'm very pleased with this painting.  :0)  

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  December 2011.

One of my first acrylic paintings!

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  December 2011.

In the background around the edges of this painting, I collaged poems that Steve has given to me over the past years.  The roses represent his unconditional, vibrant love for me.  My amazing husband will often suprise me with roses, just because.  :0)  The words written around the roses are words he spoke to me one night and I so happen to write it down before we both forgot!  

Acrylics.  November 2011.

I LOVE the rawness and revealed layers in this first abstract I painted.

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  October 2011.

Acrylics. June 2011

Acrylics.  March 2011.

This painting represents Morgan and Parker as they watch over me.

Watercolors.  May 2010.

This is a watercolor painting I did for Steve.  I've painted for years with watercolors.  It was only recently that I've taken up acrylics.

Acrylics & collage ephemera.  April 2010.

Acrylics.  April 2010.

This is a very early painting I did.  It is 4 painting pieced together to create one.  

Acrylics.  March 2010.

This painting was commissioned by a friend of mine.  Betsy wanted a painting for her daughter.

Acrylics.  February 2010.

My very first painting.  I remember spending a lot of time working on this one even though it doesn't look like it!  In my mind, I kept thinking I had to make it perfect!

Acrylics & Collage Ephemera.  March 2013.

Nisei, in japanese, means second generation.  That is what my mother and her siblings were-the second generation of Japanese-Americans.

I actually finished this piece before I did my first oil painting.  I took an old black and white photo of my mom, aunt and uncle when they were young and painted from that.  My grandfather was a portrait photographer and took the photo.  The background is of collage japanese papers and journaling that I did.  For me, it was a real milestone to capture  the essence of loved ones.  

Acrylics & Collage Ephemera.  March 2013.

I've been having fun painting kokeshi dolls on collaged backgrounds. It's perfect since I have a TON of beautiful papers just wanting to be used somehow. :0) I'm sure there will be more kokeshi doll paintings to come-stay tuned!!  This painting with the frame is for sale in my Etsy shop, just click on my Etsy shop icon on the right hand side of my blog here.