Denise Lockhart Bush

Since early childhood, I have envisioned my golden years being spent outdoors, in balmy-warm-summer days, painting the beauty of God’s world. Never forgetting this dream, I picked up art classes here and there preparing myself for the day when I was to realize that dream. The journey along the way has proven to be quite interesting. My favorite classes were taught at Fort Mason located on the water’s edge in San Francisco. There I studied perspective, color, and people. I then joined a group, headed by one of my art teachers, on a painting trip to France. This further enhanced my art education as I meandered my way through its many art museums.
Understanding and knowing what is in the heart of an artist has greatly boosted my appreciation of his work that I otherwise may not have enjoyed. A lot was learned from Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall. Not originally being drawn to Picasso’s style, I enjoyed his work much more after learning of its covert-political nature. He lived through a time of intense-political oppression, and I admire that he chose a creative form of expression which was not destructive. From Henri Matisse I was taught patience with my creativity, whether it comes in the form of painting or writing. I was told that Matisse would study his subject for hours before ever putting his brush to the canvas. This so impressed me that I now allow myself the freedom to take as much time as I need to create. My greatest experience however, came at the museum for Marc Chagall. To look at Chagall’s work strictly of its own merits, I thought was rather ugly. His colors were bold and clashing. I saw his work as ominous. It stirred up in me all kinds of uncomfortable emotions. I grabbed one of his brochures on my way out of the museum and while I was waiting for the rest of my party to leave, I read his biography on what his art means to him, why he paints, what he wants to convey to the viewer, etc. I was so moved by his heart. To have such a personal insight of this man’s psyche allowed me to view his art from completely different eyes. He gave me the gift of appreciating “all creation,” not just that which I thought “pretty!” I walked away from that museum with the greatest education of all – less judgment and more acceptance of all of life.”
Earlier than I thought, I began realizing my dream of my golden years in my bronze years. When I was in my late 40’s, my painting career was launched one summer at the Athens Botanical Gardens. There I took my very first oil painting class, outdoors, in the warm-summer sun… just like I pictured it.
I love painting; I love creating. It is an expression of my heart. What I revere most in life is to touch and be touched by someone’s heart. It is my desire as you view my art, that you gain insight into my heart, and that I have the honor to touch yours.

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