Denise Lion

Denise Lion was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 1960 and has lived in the United State since 1981. She grew up at the edge of the sea, the daughter of a Naval Commander. Denise experienced beauty in the ocean and all its surroundings while living the life of a career military officer’s family. Her first memories are of the swirling waters and the exotic sea and land life that Brazil has to offer. Her passion is the water and sun and this reflected in much of her work. Denise is the second of six children. She is married to Tim and has 2 children, Erik (21) and Bianka (16).

Her education takes her through the Brazilian University system and then on to the USA in 1981 to undertake studies in the art of esthetics.

Her career began as an active in the beauty industry where she has created her skills of treating clients to help them look their most beautiful. Like her art works, Denise takes pride transforming the human palette from a dull canvas into a gorgeous, radiant look.

Along with her husband, she has created a successful Day Spa called Skin Care International in Plano, Texas. It is here that she began to experiment with oil painting. Since 2001, Denise has created numerous works which been displayed in her Day Spa and in various galleries around Dallas metroplex. She has sold over 15 pieces in the past year and commissioned to draw several portraits.

Artist Statement

I always wanted to paint, but I thought that you had to be born a painter.

As I mature, I discover that art is anything that moves the human soul like color shapes textures, comforting people been a good listener and love for life etc...,and that's how I start to be a painter.

As a day spa owner and mother of two, had developed all the above. Always hearing from customers and friends, that I have a gift to enlighten and make people happy and comforted the human soul.

I see life as the biggest art form full of colors, shapes, smells, moments that represent every mood or feeling. Therefore, I decided to put my feelings and love for life into a canvas. My work is mostly very colorful and bright, which is my view of life. "To create one's own world in any of the arts takes courage" that's is a great quote from my favorite artist Georgia O'Keeffe

I have no previous art education, only a few technical classes at the local hobby shop. The best school for me is how I live life, and that reflects on what I put on the canvas, and that is my inspiration and my instructor.

When I paint, I for go all my thoughts and I fell like some one just take over my hand and mind and start to create. I do not put any thought before I paint. I have no idea what is going to happen the only thing that preplan is what color I feel at that moment. I fell so passionate when I am panting it is so exhilarating scrumptious.

A natural high is impossible to explain. The color just moves by themselves like a mind and soul that wants to merge and become one, Feels as if the colors are dancing to a tropical beat to create form. It is so exuberating that it makes my heart beat intensely as the paint starts to take a form.

My work is mostly abstract it becomes what I want to say and feel and that usually has not a knowing structure but all the feelings and desires.

I am fixated with eyes; I love them because they will tell it all about who you are.

I also haunted by swirls maybe because it looks like life, with no beginning, and no end just a fabulous journey of unexpected changes grant me a purpose to be alive.

My favorite medium is oil because it flows like the sea and changes at anytime, from calm to rough without prior notice,

I do not have a special technique, Just love to experiment with different materials.

I adore using gems on my pieces. I think they also should made to be a part of your intimate world, to be put on a place were you pass by daily, and go uwow what a beautiful creation of nature".

Being Brazilian born, I grow up on the beach where the sunshine never ends, and life is always a big party. It shows in my art, the tropic flair of strong colors combination that reminds me of a childhood full of nature and unexpected adventures.