Today we’d like to introduce you to Denise Fontana Hoover.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My journey as an artist began in the mid-sixties. I graduated with a BFA from St. Mary’s of Notre Dame in 1969. After graduating I worked as an assistant automotive photographer In Detroit. It was there I honed my photography skills, using them as the photographer for the Harbinger Dance Company in Detroit. In the 1970s and 1980s I created Fine Art. This included painting, drawing, printmaking and photography. In 1983 my husband’s work took us to Salisbury, North Carolina where I became involved with the Waterworks Gallery in Salisbury. I had a one-person show of my prints and received many awards in various shows at the Gallery. My daughter was born in NC.
My husband’s work then brought us to Woodstock, Illinois. The late 1980s and 1990s found me raising 2 children. Most of my work was centered on making drawings and paintings of and with my children. We all had sketchbooks, paints and crayons. It was then I began drawing from the TV as we watched it. Both of my kids did the same. Since there was no pause button at the time we drew very fast. My daughter’s Amadeus and Lonesome Dove images and my son’s Superhero and comic images are priceless. When I whittled my husband did as well. We eventually created totem poles.
In 1991 due to the economic down turn I found myself back in the insurance business. However, I never stopped creating art. In 2008 I received my Certificate of Painting from the School of the Chicago Art Institute. Painting was my focus. My work was exhibited at the Woodstock Opera House am the Starline Gallery in Harvard, IL.
In 2012 I enrolled in Vermont College of Fine Art’s low residency MFA program. I contracted with renowned Chicago Artists as studio advisors. One of them insisted I paint nothing less than five feet, so my paintings became large. I received my VCFA MFA in August 2015. In Dec 2015 I hosted a pop-up exhibit of my recent paintings. In 2016 I retired and began my fulltime journey as an artist.
My paintings are large with a few small thrown in on occasion. I work on paper and canvas with acrylic, spray paint and black-walnut pulp from my property and often on more than one body of work at a time.
In 2018 I participated in a Field/Work residency at Chicago Artist Coalition. This residency created direction and possibilities for me within the Chicago. I frequent the Chicago Art scene and hope to show in Chicago in the future.
Please tell us about your art.
My personal life weaves itself into my art life. My surroundings are paramount in my art making. It’s her I scavenge sight vignettes, materials and methods connecting them (or weaving) with ideas that fire in my mind. My hands delight in every tactile opportunity to participate in the creating art. I avoid projecting an outcome and remain open to surprise and guidance from the process of art-making itself. I strive for fearlessness and consider making art my safe place to be fearless.
Stunned by the color and beauty of a beet I slice while making dinner, I decide to paint this sense experience. After dinner I begin work in my garage. on heavy paper. I paint with black-walnut pulp (harvested from my property), acrylic and spray paints and create “Beet and Black-Walnut Salad,” It’s a 5 by 6-foot painting. Many of my paintings are a mix of these paints. Color is always a prominent force in my work.
I teach myself to dye with the black-walnut pulp and other natural dyes on my kitchen stove. I dye more canvas in my washing machine with synthetic dyes. Everyone always asks me if I ruin my washing machine. The answer is “no.” Separately, I place three large paintings (damaged in a flood) in my washing machine. Once again, no harm to the machine and the wash and rinse cycles transform the paintings successfully. I’m beginning a series of this work this summer.
Recently, witnessing my window washer artfully used his squeegee to clean my bay windows I realize the squeegee would be a great tool to move paint on a flat surface. So, I bought squeegees and am using them to create paintings. I’ll paint both sides of the canvas differently, Cut the painting in half and then in quarters and reattach opposite sides with zippers, creating new compositions.
I find my circle of experience in the common place, the ordinary stuff of everyday living. My hope is that my audience will feel at home when they view my work. That the familiar items, like a beet, a zipper, a sewing and washing machine will engage and retain their attention in the now and the later when they zip-up their jacket. I stay attuned to what’s happening around me wherever I am, paying attention to sensations, insights and ideas as they multiply and intersect
Do you have any advice for other artists? Any lessons you wished you learned earlier?
If I’ve learned one thing, it’s that creating art work creates more art work. It’s a process that grows. Just as the tree grows every year once that seed takes hold, so it is that within each work of art created by the artist there lies within it the seed for another work of art. It may be invisible to us, but trust me, it does exist. I’ve been making art for over 60 years and to witness where I am now being close to miraculous. Trust the process is my advice to other artists. Eventually, the process finds you. Keep an open mind and enjoy the journey.
I’d also like to borrow from Susan Sontag’s guiding words: “Do stuff. Be Clenched, curious. Not waiting for inspiration’s shove or society’s kiss on your forehead. Pay attention. It’s all about paying attention. Attentions is vitality, it connects you with others. It makes you eager. Stay eager.”
Here are some more of my guiding words: Find continuing-ed art classes and take as many as you can. Meet other artists. Form a critique group where you meet and talk about each other’s work. Visit museums and galleries with them or by yourself, especially the opening shows. You can actually talk to the artists and ask them questions. I was lucky enough to meet Terry Winters, an artist whose thinking and work has had a profound influence on my art making, at a gallery opening. I was able to share with him how important his work was to me. Remember consciousness is key. Trust that your subconscious will express itself as well. If you need help or direction, ask for it from artists you look up to. Don’t give up. There are dormant periods, but they will pass. Spring and Summer always show up. If along the way you can help others trying to be an artist, reach out to them. It helps them and you too.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Currently my website is in process. I hope to have it completed soon. In the meantime, if anyone is interested in my work, they can contact me directly at: mdcecelia@gmail.com.
I would be happy to share images of my paintings. I have a google slide show I can forward as well. All of my work is professionally photographed. I’ll have a show at the Woodstock Opera House in 2019 and looking forward to studio visits from other galleries interested in showing my work. Any show I’m involved in will be on my website.
Contact Info:
- Address: 14618 Dogwood Lane, Woodstock, Illinois 60098
- Phone: 815-260-3698
- Email: mdcecelia@gmail.com
- Instagram: hoover.denise
- Facebook: M. Denise Fontana Hoover
Image Credit:
Personal Photo – IPhone – China- Denise Hoover and Margaret Carsello / Photos 1 & 2 -Zipper Piece (front and back) Acrylic and zippers on canvas – 36 x 44-inches 2017 / 3 -Painting -“Floating” 5 x 8-feet -Acrylic, black-walnut pulp and spray paint 2015/ 4 – IPhone photo -Pop-Up Gallery Exhibit – 12/15 -Woodstock,IL /5 -Painting – “Blue Cloud” 5′ x 7-feet -Acrylic, black-walnut pulp, spray paint 2015 / 6 – IPhone Graduate Photo of Denise Hoover 2015 Vermont College of Fine Art-Paintings from left to right – Wings – Beet and Black-Walnut Salad and Notes/ 7-Painting 52 x 54-inches – Acrylic on Canvas -Ballerina Carries Mountain Across the Stage 2017 /8 – Painting – Acrylic on Paper 54 x 56-inches 2017 – All paintings by Denise Hoover.
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