About
I love to paint and do collage paintings to capture the spirit of joy all around us. I love painting and collaging pet portraits -- and even make paper from collected fur to incorporate in them. I also love landscapes and flowers.
My first love is henna art. I have been practicing and teaching henna since 1998 -- and even ran a kiosk at Seaport Village for 5 years. Now, I'm back to being a freelancer.
My second love is acrylic painting and collage art which I've been developing seriously since 2004. In 2018, I opened Poppyfish Studio and in 2019, I was a vendor at CatCon! I have taught classes at Hobby Lobby as well as private homes and Bravo School of Art.
My art has been juried into the Small Image Show in Spanish Village, Gallery 21, 3 years in a row. I've also had art in the Doggone Art Show 2018, The Catnip Connection 2018, and the Reigning Cats and Dogs Show 2019. I am a member of Spanish Village Arts Center and also the Southwest Artists' Association.
I love seeing students who are shy and think they have no talent blossom as they create works of beauty. Art is a skill that can be learned. It's such a thrill to see the joy as students master skills and begin to create with confidence.
Photos and videos
Reviews
Denise D.
Lynda
Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
After some discussion to assess what the student is looking for and where they are starting, we will formulate an action plan to build skills in a logical, yet fun way. I'm very practical. If something isn't working, I'll figure out some other way to explain the material. Student success and confidence is my goal.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I have a BA in International Studies from Earlham College, with an emphasis on the arts and culture of East Asia. I've taught all kinds of classes from ethnomusicology to college students at Keele University, UK (1998) to Chinese Cooking (Baltimore, MD Adult Education Dept, 1997) to henna classes in the San Diego County Libraries (ongoing since 2009) to henna and collage classes at Bravo School of Art and leading Paint Your Pet Parties at both Hobby Lobby in La Mesa and in private homes since 2019. My strength is helping people see how to break a project into simple steps and achieve success.