About the Artist
DENISE LEBLANC IS A NATIVE- BORN RESIDENT OF WASHINGTON STATE.
SHE IS A GRADUATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON, WITH DEGREES IN ART, COMMUNICATIONS, ENGLISH AND EDUCATION, ELEMENTRY AND HIGH SCHOOL. SHE HAS HER MASTERS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION.
AT PENNY CREEK ELEMENTARY SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WRITE A GRANT FOR AN ART THERAPY PROGRAM IN HER SPECIAL NEEDS CLASSROOM. THERE SHE SHARED HER LOVE OF ART WITH STUDENTS HAVING EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES. SHE ENCOURAGED THESE INDIVIDUALS TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES THROUGH THEIR ART AND TO MAKE POSITIVE CONNECTIONS TO THEIR GENERAL CURRICULUM AND THEIR ENVIRONMENT.
DENISE STARTED OUT USING PEN AND INK WHEN HER CHILDREN WERE YOUNG. THIS MEDIUM STRENGTHENED HER ABILITY TO DRAW. SHE HAS TAUGHT MOST MEDIUMS AND IS CURRENTLY WORKING WITH OIL PAINTED OVER AN ACRYLIC UNDERPAINTING.
“I LOVE WORKING WITH COLOR AND TEXTURE. ONE CAN RECOGNIZE THESE CHARACTERISTICS IN MY WORK GOING WAY BACK.” THESE PROPERTIES ARE PROMINENT IN HER MOST CURRENT WORKS. SHE ESPECIALLY ADMIRES THE WORK OF THE IMPRESSIONIST ARTISTS OF THE PAST.
MANY OF DENISE’S PAINTINGS HAVE BEEN ACCEPTED INTO LOCAL AND NATIONAL SHOWS. MOST CURRENT, SHE WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE NAWA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ARTISTS, REPRESENTING ARTISTS IN ALL AREAS OF THE VISUAL ARTS. SHE WAS ONE OF 30 JURIED INTO THE SHOW FROM THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. SHE WAS ALSO THE FEATURED ARTIST IN THE MUKILTEO FESTIVAL. MOST RECENTLY, DENISE WAS THE FEATURED ARTIST AND HAD A PRIVATE SHOWING AT OVERLAKE HOSPITAL IN BELLEVUE.
SHE HAS PAINTINGS IN THE CORPORATE COLLECTIONS OF; NALLY’S FOOD COMPANY, RAINIER BREWING COMPANY, FOSS TUG, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON CANCER CENTER, THE VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, SKAGIT VALLEY AND OVERLAKE HOSPITAL, INCLUDING MANY PRIVATE COLLECTIONS. DENISE EXHIBITS IN PRIVATE SHOWS IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST.
HER PAINTINGS ARE AVAILABLE ON HER WEBSITE, DENISEARTONLINE.COM AND BY APPOINTMENT AT HER GALLERY IN HER HOME STUDIO.
DENISE CONTINUES TO BE AN AVID PAINTER AND TEACHER, ALWAYS PUSHING THE LIMITS AND CONTINUING TO GROW.