BY AUSTRALIAN ARTIST
In August 2017, I was housesitting for over three weeks, looking after a beautiful cat at a five-acre property at Brooloo, Queensland. I had collected fabrics which I was sorting for upcoming workshops I was going to attend. I suddenly thought “... why am I using other fabrics, I have the time to do my own�. So, I drove 120 kilometres, to buy a load of white cotton fabric, washed
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and dried it, set up a table on the outside patio area with a drop
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sheet under, undertaking to paint sixty designs at various sizes. I took
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a different approach to previously, I had never directly hand painted. After that first brush stroke I was on fire! I came up with ideas and designs I had not previously done. I worked continuously each day, sometimes till after dark, when I had mosquito coils burning. Some days were hot, some windy enough to tape things down. I had to move the table as the sun moved on me and the fabric. I was rescuing curious insects from wet paint, which were landing as I was hand painting. A wild cat would visit on dusk and cause my cat to pounce. I took breaks to walk in the bush and along the creek on the property. I was in my element and the Elements, and I loved it!
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Drifting Petals
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Balmy Light
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Dancing Leaves
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The Travelling Artist Denise remembers how much she loved finger painting at kindergarten. All that fabulous freedom of expression! Art was all she ever wanted to do. She has a background as an Illustrator, having graduated in Commercial Illustration at The Queensland College of Art. Later she did 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 went to Rajastan India, seeking to have her block printed designs screen printed on fabric. Two designs were printed successfully before she had 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 realised 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! She keeps another home base / studio, in the hinterland of Queensland’s Sunshine Coast in Australia. Devoted to her passion, she is developing workshops to share her love of hand painting on fabric. Denise is grateful to have recently joined FreeSpirit Fabrics as a designer, feeling truly fulfilled in her life’s quest to paint and share her organic, large scale and colourful designs.
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New Life
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Vine Magic
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Ponderings 9
Seeds Breaking Out
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Passionfruit Surprise
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Photos by Denise Burkitt Š All Rights 2018 Fabric designs L-R New Life, Vine Magic, Ponderings
BY AUSTRALIAN ARTIST
deniseburkitt.com For ordering information:www.freespiritfabrics.com or call 866-907-3305