Denise "DK" Cumming

About Me

While not specifically trained in the fine arts, I have always engaged in various self-taught art pursuits, from folk art influenced painting and abstract large-scale carvings to clay, mixed media and collage. My work over the past few years has evolved into a more abstract form in original paintings as well as experimental photography.  

From the window seat of airplanes I use long exposure times and camera movement to "paint" unique images of light reflecting off of clouds and objects on the ground.  I also do SUPER long exposures called Solargraphy.  With DIY pinhole cameras I create images that track the path of the Sun over long periods of time...usually 6 months (Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice).  I also create unique images with my regular camera, a 360 camera and many different types of light and fire.

I was raised in Fort Worth, TX and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Utah.  My career mostly consisted of management positions with various nonprofit organizations, but, one of the more unique things I have done is the 5 years I spent raising bison outside Taos, NM.  The independence of life on a 9,000 acre ranch with its wide open vistas, isolation and hard physical work coupled with getting to know and care for some magnificent animals remains one of my favorite adventures in this life.  Although I now reside in Knoxville, TN the influence of Texas, the Southwest and Mountain West has never left me and is a primary force behind much of my art.

My original paintings are mostly acrylics in which I have added pumice and other stuff to create many layers and structured depth.  I use hardware style tools like drywall blades, putty knifes and scrapers to create unique textures.  Color, layers and texture evoke the varied, colorful, often stark, landscapes seen in the West - horizons and a sense of big sky often show up in my art.

I do commissions.  If you see a style you like but want different colors or have a project you would like to talk about just give me a call.

Exhibitions:

2012 - Solo exhibition Textures and Horizons -Tea at the Gallery - Knoxville, TN

2013 - Juried group exhibition Dogwood Regional Fine Art Exhibition - Knoxville, TN

2018 - Juried group exhibition Dogwood Regional Fine Art Exhibition - Knoxville, TN

2018 - Art Slam - an invitational live painting event/fundraiser for Dogwood Arts 

2019 - Arts and Culture Alliance National Juried Exhibition - Knoxville, TN

2021 - Group exhibition Zan Zan Gallery - Asheville, NC

2022 - Online group exhibition Exibizone Winter 2022 - Toronto, Canada

2022 - Group exhibition Arts at the Airport - Knoxville, TN

2022 - Two artist exhibition Motion, Time and Light - The Emporium Center - Knoxville, TN