A Day at the Market with Denee’ Black

Posted by Brandi Moody on 9 August 2011 | 3 Comments

Two things downtown Raleigh offers during the summer are monthly First Fridays full of fine art and Farmers Market weekends stocked full of fresh produce. Combine both of those and you’ve got the bold and savory creations by Denee’ Black. Her new exhibit, [pro•duce], opened this past First Friday night in downtown Raleigh at Designbox, and each painting was created entirely from her observations at the State Farmers Market.

“When walking through the buildings, I am captured by the piles of colorful fruits and vegetables: purple eggplants, green apples, yellow peppers, orange tomatoes. In striking contrast to the organic shapes of the produce are the organized rows and stacks of boxes and baskets flagged with brightly colored handwritten signs. People are buzzing from vendor to vendor among these sculptural forms. These sights, shapes, colors, and energies at the farmers market are what inspired me to produce this series.”

I got a chance to find out what inspires this talented artist and take a peek into her creative mind. Here is what she had to say about her life as a full time artist:

Please tell our readers a little more about where you are from:
I am a mixed media artist working in Raleigh, NC. I am originally from Charlotte. I moved to Raleigh to attend N.C. State. I have been in Raleigh for 15 years so it's now my 'home sweet home.'

When and how did you first become interested in art?
I have been an artist all my life. It started out with drawing at a very young age. Always drawing. Then making things, anything. Then painting. I don't remember there being anything specific that sparked my interest in art; it was always just a natural part of who I was. 

Did you go to art school or were you self-taught?
To start, I was fortunate in that I attended public schools that had pretty decent art programs. Sadly, with all of the budget cuts, this is not the case for most kids these days. My high school had an amazing art program and a National Arts Honor Society thanks to a very dedicated art teacher. This gave me the confidence and skills to attend N.C. State's College of Design. 

How long have you been an artist?
I think part of being an artist is a state of mind: to notice things around you that other people overlook, to see beauty where others see none, to feel deeply. In regards to this definition, I have been an artist all my life. As an artist, even in times that I am not actively producing work, my mind is always creating. Professionally, I have been a working artist for two years. 

Can you describe what your creative process is like?
I am a thinker, so I would say that all of my pieces start out with a lot of thinking and mulling over of ideas. Sometimes this process can go on too long! Once I gain physical momentum on a project I start to cull through my existing images or, if needed, I have a day of shooting new photos. Once I have chosen my image(s), I basically envision a completely finished painting (or collage or print) and I then start working to make that come to fruition. The next step is deciding the finished size and the overall colors. I start painting or collaging and working on one area at a time. I work slowly. I think it's because I think too much!  

Is there a story behind your paintings?
No, there really isn't a story behind my paintings. I was an artist long before I was a [graphic] designer. For years I struggled with the differences between the two: Art vs. Design. When I finally figured out that the two could complement one another, I found my painting style. 

On average, how long does it take to create one of your pieces?
This is a difficult question to answer because every piece is so different. Some pieces take days and others take years. But on average, a few weeks to a few months.

Are your works one of a kind or limited editions?
All of my works are one of a kind. I am mostly painting in mixed media these days, but I also do collage and screen-printing. Though you can obviously have limited editions of screen prints, I chose not to work this way. I like to add collage or painting or drawing to my prints so that they are all different.

What is your favorite subject to create?
I don't have a favorite subject. It really just depends on what is inspiring me at the time. 

What is your most difficult medium to work with?
Polymer medium. I use it to make acrylic skins and to create layers. It's finicky! It's like the Goldilocks of mediums: too hot, too cold, too much, too little!   

What is your favorite time of day to create?
Whoo whoo, I am such a night owl! I am my best from about 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m.  

A typical day for you would be:
I am not generally a rigidly scheduled person, so each day is different for me. Like I said, I am a night owl. But for the past few months I have been trying to focus on keeping more 'normal' hours. I am not a morning person (AT ALL!). After I wake up in my bed, I basically relocate to the couch so that I can adjust to being awake. I eat breakfast on the couch while watching TV and checking emails. I then head upstairs to my home studio and get right to work.

While I am working, I either listen to WKNC 88.1 FM radio or listen to Law & Order playing on the TV. (Whatever it takes to quiet that loud left-brain!). I work for about 3 to 4 hours non-stop and then I'll take a break. This timing typically coincides with needing to eat lunch. I break for a lunch of fruit and rest or catch up on fun things like bills, laundry, etc. It is both beneficial and detrimental to have a studio in one's own home. After a short lunch break, I work a few more hours. An ideal workday is 8 to 10 hours. I don't stop working at a certain time. My general rule is that I work as long as possible, knowing that I will stop when I start to make mistakes.

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
Making the commitment to being a full-time working artist!  

Do you do all of the work yourself (framing, packaging, shipping, marketing, etc.) or do you have assistants helping you with the process?
I do all the work myself. 

You absolutely cannot go without……My camera!  

Do you prefer oils or acrylics?
Acrylics; simply because they are less toxic. I do use some toxic ones, but I am extra aware of those. What it comes down to is that I am REALLY MESSY when I am creating. At times, I will be covered in paint from head to toe. I run out of room on my palette (read: piece of scrap paper, plastic, cardboard, etc.) and I start using my arm or my leg to mix and test colors. When I am in creative motion, I don't want to have to stop and think about finding something, cleaning something, or placing something back in its spot. I just want to keep that momentum going...it's so precious!  

What projects do you have coming up?
I am currently working on my cityscape series for my next show. It will be in Raleigh at 311 West Martin Street Galleries and Studios. The show is called 'Urban Perspectives,' featuring my work and the work of Becca Bellamy.  

If you could take a peek into any artist’s studio, who would it be?
Robert Rauschenberg! He was such a multifaceted artist. His mixed media work involving screen-printing is my favorite.  

Where are you scheduled to show this year?
Raleigh, Boone, and Durham

Where do you find the inspiration for your work?
All around me! I like industrial, urban, gritty, ordinary, everyday type places. I am a collector, so I also love to frequent antique stores, flea markets, thrift stores, etc. Plenty of inspiration there! 

Do you have any advice for artists or illustrators that are just starting out in the industry and want to be discovered?
Put your energy into working hard and not into "being discovered." 

What is your favorite type of cake or cupcake?
The cake or cupcake with the most icing!  

To see more of Denee’s work, please visit her website and check out her show on exhibit at Designbox until August 31^st. In September she’ll exhibiting in two separate shows; at 311 West Martin Street Galleries and Visual Art Exchange.  

Brandi Moody is an artist and designer living in Raleigh. By day she’s a graphic designer and illustrator for her own design studio. Read more about her life, work and inspiration on her blog, Ever So Lovely.

All photos by Brandi Moody.