Date: Friday, March 17, 2023
Time: 2:00-3:30PM Pacific Time/5:00-6:30 PM Eastern Time/9:00-10:30 PM London Time
Medium: Oil or acrylic
A recent discovery in Auvers-Sur-Oise, France, where Vincent Van Gogh spent his final days painting the countryside, revealed the location where he painted “Tree Roots”, now considered his final work before his death on July 29, 1890. The discovery was made by studying historic postcards and photos of a street in Auvers, which show a configuration of trees and roots that cannot be denied as the location of this work. After teaching a workshop there, I can attest to the fact that most paintings very closely reflect the world Vincent saw around him; though, he was known to exaggerate colors and movement to express his passion for this world. In this a 1 ½ hour virtual workshop, we will paint our own version of some tree roots, all while learning about his use of color, line, and impasto brushwork.
Dena Peterson was honored to be selected as one of 120 international artists out of 5000 applicants for the film, “Loving Vincent”, truly a labor of love and tribute to the life and struggles of Van Gogh as told through his paintings.
“As artists, many of us can relate to Van Gogh’s struggles, which is why his life strikes such an emotional chord with us.”
Dena’s small-town roots prompted one of her art professors to comment that her work expresses a love of intimate, quiet, and peaceful spaces. She enjoys the richness and texture of painting with oils, both en plein air, and in her Colorado Springs studio.
“For me, painting is not about copying reality. I want to paint with passion to evoke emotion.”
An award-winning artist, Dena’s paintings have been exhibited in regional, national, and international shows, such as Birds in Art at the Leigh-Yawkey Woodson Museum and national traveling show. She received her training at the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, the Art Students League of Denver, and the Scottsdale Artists School, where she was selected for the prestigious Wade Fairchild Memorial Scholarship.
She was invited to be an opening night speaker about her work on “Loving Vincent” at the Plein Air Convention and Expo 2017 in San Diego, CA, sponsored by Eric Rhoads, publisher of Plein-Air Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur. She has two instructional videos on how to paint like Van Gogh, landscapes and portraits.
Among her teachers and mentors are Kevin MacPherson, Kevin Weckbach, and Mark Daniel Nelson. She is a signature member of The American Impressionist Society.
She also enjoys inspiring others through teaching, both home and abroad.
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