Denise remembers how much she loved finger painting at Kindergarten. All that fabulous freedom of Expression! Art was all she ever wanted to do.
With a background as an Illustrator, she graduated in Commercial Illustration at The Queensland College of Art.
Later she studied Visual Arts majoring in textile printing. A tutor nominated Denise to teach a workshop on block printing in Central Australia. Inspired by the long journey she painted and pieced a large wall-hanging, Titled “Tenant Creek”. It received a highly commended prize the following year in Alice Springs.
Starting a business, she hand-painted on cotton and lycra for garments and swimwear. She sold to boutiques in Brisbane.
Creativity followed her in a change of direction into Real Estate. Denise became known for her unorthodox, innovative and creative approach to marketing houses. She was awarded the Queensland Courier Mail Marketer of the Year Award in 1993 and was subsequently offered a position as Trainer for PRD Nationwide, Queensland.
Wanting to design on fabric has been a constant passion. In 1998, Denise traveled to Rajasthan India, seeking to have her block printed designs screen printed on fabric. Two designs were printed successfully before she needed to return six weeks later to her full-time job.
After 21 years in Real Estate, Denise with her dog “Millie” embarked on a solo trip around Australia in a newly purchased motorhome. Early in the trip she realized with gratitude that she was on “One Big Art Excursion”!
Today Denise travels often, painting in the open, exploring natural environments, where she feels “Most at Home” and creative!
Her home base/ studio, is 10 acres in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in Australia. Devoted to her passion, she regularly teaches workshops, sharing her love of hand painting on fabric.
Denise joined FreeSpirit in 2018 as a designer, feeling truly fulfilled in her life’s quest to paint and share her organic, large scale and colourful designs.
www.deniseburkitt.com
