Today we’d like to introduce you to Amber Denison
Hi Amber, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up on an organic farm surrounded by nature with highly creative parents. Without cable television, my twin sister and I had to find ways to entertain ourselves, especially in Canadian winters when it’s too cold to go outside. My parents would sit us down at our kitchen table with a pad of paper and pencil crayons and we could be there for hours. in 2008 after traveling around the world I enrolled in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of British Columbia in Kelowna. I loved my first year and got really lucky with great teachers, especially in my painting and drawing classes. My final project for my sculpture class was to create a lantern out of any material we wanted. My mum has an organic salad dressing company and had hundreds of empty organic sunflower oil barrels. So I lugged two of them into class with me was like, “what can I do with these?” My teacher directed me towards a cutting torch and that’s where I first was introduced to metal work. A few years later someone had seen my lanterns and told me I should check out a Plasma Cutter-a tool that uses compressed air and electricity to create an arc which pushes plasma through the metal. It was difficult to use at first because it was so precise compared to a cutting torch, but once I got the hang of it, that was it! For the past 10 years I have mostly sold commission pieces, both metal and painting and also participated in art shows in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Kelowna. In 2021 I moved to Wimberley with my now husband and not only did we start a small market farm, but also had a baby! Needless to say I haven’t made much artwork in the past few years but I have now started again, and showcased my work at some Dripping Springs and Driftwood markets.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think there are always some struggles along the way being an artist, especially if your main source of income depends on it. Starting out as a young, unknown artist can be extremely difficult to get accepted to galleries, get fair prices for your work and even just feeling confident in what you’re creating. Working for clients on a commissioned piece is a usually a guarantee paycheck, but sometimes that comes with unrealistic expectations. For example, being asked to make unlimited changes or trying to read your clients mind and grasp an abstract concept they’re envisioning even if that’s part of your job as a commissioned artist. I have also been asked to replicate a previous metal piece I had done before which was impossible for me to do. And of course, the biggest struggles for artists is going through a creative block!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
What sets me apart in the art world is definitely my metal work. A lot of the metal pieces I have made over the years have been used in gardens or live outside, but my most fulfilling metal work is creating innovative pieces that can be hung on a wall inside, like any other painting, photograph or drawing. I have come across a few other artists that use plasma cutters, one in particular who shows at galleries and does really amazing work, but for the most part it’s not a common tool used for modern art. I still love making large abstract paintings, and I draw for fun when I have the time, but my plasma cut pieces are what people go “wow!”
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me the most happy is laughing! No matter what mood I’m in- if I’m laughing I am fully enjoying the moment! I also love to sing and dance! My sister and I did adult beginner ballet 4 times a week for several years when we lived in LA and that has been one of the most fun and rewarding activities I have done in my life! It also led to us being in a musical, and how I met my husband!
Horseback riding, hiking, flowers and the sun also make me happy!
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.amberandkerisa.com/
- Instagram: @amberandkerisa
- Other: https://www.songlandfarms.com
