We have all had a tough few years and the thing that has really kept me sane has been my love of the sea, I am so lucky to live near the sea and to be able to breathe in that lovely fresh air and ozone.  The comfort that the sea has brought to so many people has been astonishing.  So many people started walking and swimming and living a smaller but maybe fuller life as a result of the hardships of the last few years.
 I now love to swim in the sea - as a child I had a fear of the waves and was always nervous of swimming - but about 10 years ago I challenged myself to give it a try, and I am so glad I did!!  Since then I have been a regular sea swimmer - or more of a dipper than a swimmer if Im honest!  I usually swim from March to October and walk the beach or the coast path near my home in the winter as well.   Last summer due to an illness I wasn't able to swim and I missed it so much - but I could still draw and paint my favourite place - so I have had nothing but joy from the sea for the past few years.  
With that in mind I approached Signal Arts Centre in Bray with an idea for an exhibition - rough title "The Sea Saves us"  I still don't know what exactly I will call the exhibition but I want to reflect the different stories of how the sea has helped us all through difficult times and in different ways.  I would love to hear anyones personal stories of the sea which might inspire new paintings.  I have started on the paintings and will be working on them for the next five months, up to the last minute.  The exhibition will be in Bray at the end of September 2022.  
Now I'm off to paint some more!  
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If you would like to join my mailing list please let me know by email: denise@denisefrench.net

Like many people I really don't like the sound of my own voice on a recording, even if I have plenty to say!  So when Aisling O Rourke of Ireland Creates Podcast asked me to come on her podcast for a "chat" I was a bit nervous!  However, never one to turn down a good chat I participated and we had great fun.   The stories behind the creatives, storytellers, artists and makers of Ireland, what brought them to this creative place and how they feel about what they do.   There are lots of other interesting guests over the series and its a lovely listen.  Hope you enjoy it, my episode aired today 11 March 2021.  Click on the link above to listen.
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A strange path we find ourselves on now.  
April 1st 2020 and the world is spinning in a different direction, people are remaining at home, not seeing loved ones, not going out, not sharing hugs or greetings with friends and neighbours.  This Drawing represents the path through the woods of uncertainty, we find ourselves without a firm view of the future, we don't know what will be there when we come out the other side.  
We don't know who will be there, or what the landscape of our new lives will be.
I hope that in my future work and my creative journey that I will be able to offer hope and joy to you as you navigate that path. 
In the meantime take care and stay safe.
Denise
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This painting is called "the Challenge" and its exactly what is happening in my world now..... I have just started a very exciting new Post Graduate course in Trinity College Dublin which will be really interesting and challenging I'm sure!  We started yesterday with some really interesting introductions and insights into what it is we want to achieve from the course, that is such a broad range of outcomes and the group is really diverse so its going to be facinating.
My painting and drawing continues apace and I thank everyone for their great support and purchases in 2019, I hope to have some new outlets where you can view and buy work during 2020 and will keep you informed.  
While studying I will also be painting and posting here and on Instagram and the usual places, while  attending all the usual arts events so its going to be a really busy and interesting year.  

Please follow me on Instagram DeniseFrenchArtist or Linked In (just started there so building as we speak!) 
Happy 2020

Its time to tidy out the Studio after a long enjoyable summer- I love this time of year, ordering new canvas and materials and getting back down to work.  I didn't do much painting this summer but instead concentrated on drawing and looking and experiencing the wonderful surroundings of  both County Wexford and West Cork.  I have some great ideas for seascapes and some lovely drawings and photographs of sand dunes that are just begging to be put on to big canvas.  Keep a look out here for updates and of course on FB and on Instagram @DeniseFrenchArtist 
If you want to see my work in real life of course you can email me for an appointment at the studio or visit SouthShore Arts in Dalkey, the Guinness Gallery in Foxrock Village, and I will have work on show in Greenacres of Wexford for the Opera Festival in October.

on view in Wexford, Dublin, Foxrock, Dalkey, Colrnelscourt........and of course on line

This spring I am delighted to be exhibiting once more at Green Acres Gallery in Wexford Town, https://www.greenacres.ie they have been great supporters of my work over the years and it is a pleasure to have my work shown there with other Irish and International artists in their world class gallery space.  

You can also see my paintings at the lovely Guinness Gallery in Foxrock Village, they also have a beautiful range of craft items.

The newest gallery in Dalkey SouthShore Arts is just beside the DART station and has a selection of my work and also stocks my greeting cards, they have a huge range of art, craft and jewellery in this lovely bright space.

The Gallery above the Magic Carpet in Cornelscourt also has a great range of paintings on view.

Dont forget to check out https://www.incognito.ie which opens this week 5th April, you never know who you might find there!!

So I stopped talking about the Sea and started painting it - I have had so much fun- and its been a great excuse to get out walking!  Im really lucky to live really near the sea and I can look at it every day, its an ever changing thing - calming and terrifying depending on the day.  The colours are amazing, and of course everyone sees it differently.  I love my meadow paintings but I'm now becoming addicted to the sea and all its changing moments.

So what do I do.....I usually start off with a walk and a few photos ..... maybe a sit and a think as well.  Back to the studio and I just choose a few colours to start, my palette is very limited but I try to make as many greens blues and greys as I can so that the tones all blend and I go from one to the other and back again.  I can spend weeks on a painting but will be working on several at one time, I need the many layers to dry in between painting sessions.  The last thing to go on is the excitement of the white spray of the top of the wave.... this is nerve-racking as it can all go horribly wrong or it can work out exactly as I hoped.  The challenge of the sea and the possibility of failure is ever present and that makes it all the more exciting.

There is a big element of chance about these paintings and that's what the sea and life is all about.  If  we don't take a chance or rise to the challenge of what is put in front of us then we aren't really experiencing our full potential.

Now Im off to paint some more..... keep a look out on my website for new work and Im always posting the new stuff on Instagram @denisefrenchartist 

Thanks for visiting
Denise
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I have been looking at the sea, photographing the sea, trying to draw the sea..... then I had an amazing walk on Kilmore Beach on a wild day in September and I thought .....just go ahead and paint the sea!!  Im really enjoying the paintings and the results!  I have a couple going to Greenacres in Wexford for their Christmas exhibition and they are also available in my Online Shop. 
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I know its early to mention the coming season but Christmas is coming and its a great time to treat yourself or your bestie to a lovely, original, hand made, Irish Artwork!  To make it easier for you I have removed all shipping charges until December 31st and I will also include a free pack of my Greeting cards with every order. Simply pop over to my Shop page and ordering is really simple, if you are in the Dublin Area or North Wicklow I can deliver, otherwise I use An Post who I find really reliable.  
If you want to see the work in real life you can visit my studio in Dalkey by appointment only, or I have paintings on view currently in the Guinness Gallery Foxrock, The Intermarium Gallery Cornelscourt, and Southshore Arts in Dalkey.
Just let me know how I can help and I will do my best to find you a lovely artwork that suits your home and budget - if there is something on the website that is not in the shop just let me know and I can send it to the shop for you - its hard to keep it all up to date!!
Happy shopping and do let me know if you think I can improve anything on the site to make it easier for you.
All the best      Denise
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Wexford Festival Opera 
Guinness Gallery Foxrock

It was a wonderful hot and very busy summer for everyone this year and thanks to all of you who came to my Solo Exhibition in June at the Signal Arts Centre in Bray, it was a great event and met lots of new and returning customers.  There was also a great demand for my new range of Greeting cards which I launched at the exhibition, you can now buy these online from my website shop and I hope to have them available at a local outlet in Glasthule soon.

I am delighted to let you know that the Guinness Gallery in Foxrock Village will have some of my paintings on display for the next month - this is a great opportunity to buy a nice early Christmas present for yourself.  

Greenacres Gallery in the heart of Wexford has, once again, selected my work for their Premier event of the year which is the Opera Festival Exhibition.  This year celebrates the 67th Festival and the exhibition promises to be even better than ever.

I am constantly updating my website with new work - sometimes I cant keep up so if you see something on the site that you like but it is not in the shop please let me know and I will pop it in there for you.

remember you can always buy online now that I have my shop up and running - I am currently offering FREE shipping for a limited period. 

Follow me on DeniseFrenchArtist on Instagram or Denise French on FB
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