Denise Hussey is an Irish artist painting from her studio on a farm in Delgany, Co.Wiclow. She graduated from NCAD in 2004. She is best known for her depiction of sheep and cows influenced by her surroundings on the farm, and for her exhibition ‘Sleeping Summers’ a large body of work based on the history of Blackrock Baths. Her work tends to be mainly focused on mark making, the drip, the smear, the large blunt marks of big brushes so that her subject matter becomes largely secondary to the process of painting itself. The link between her subject matter is the process. Her subjects vary depending on her circumstances but usually follow a theme such as her Lockdown series, it’s a direct response to the situation in which she finds herself. There is a playful and humorous aspect to some of her work especially in her depiction of animals. Leaning more towards the figurative than abstraction her paintings demonstrate a tension between the two.
A Little World.
Although this body of work started its life in landscape it quickly changed direction at the onset of Covid. My world was reduced to my home and the garden. Never had so little become so much. Banal everyday objects became my inspiration, basic daily staples such as flour and eggs, the kitchen cupboard, the cooker, spices, saucepans, my wardrobes and even toilet rolls and I enjoyed it – I enjoyed painting things I wouldn’t notice normally in rich dark colours normally associated with the old masters. All they are missing now are guilted frames. In complete contrast to this was the wonderful weather and an abundance of beautiful flowers in the garden, the joy of painting outdoors and the freedom to appreciate it all. My little world grew so tall.
