In Studio | Dena Peterson
Take a virtual trip to see Dena Peterson’s studio in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She is a full time artist and paints primarily in oil. She 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.
Dena is teaching a virtual class for the FAC’s Bemis School of Art
In Studio | Dena Peterson
About the Artist
Dena 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. Watch for her soon-to-be-released DVD on how to paint like Van Gogh.
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 at Bemis School of Art. Her list of course offerings include Beyond Reality and Let’s Get Started with Oil Painting.