Art and Photography
ART
New World View Series
This series is about Earth, both the dance and the struggle, seeing her and her Dance of Life from many different points of view.
Free the Hummingbird Series
"On a spring day in 2005 I heard what I thought was a rattlesnake behind some boxes in the garage. The noise was distinctive and persistent. I said a little prayer that it would leave on its own but when I returned a few hours later, the rattling sound was still there. I carefully moved the boxes aside to investigate only to discover that it was not a rattlesnake at all, but a male hummingbird trapped in a sticky spiders web.
The hummingbird had been struggling mightily all day, and was fully trapped in the web which by now had been spun into sticky ropes coating its head and body. I pulled him from the web and, as he sat quietly in the palm of my hand, I carefully removed the webbing from his delicate feet, from his beak and from around his neck and wings. He remained cupped in the palm of my hand, apparently exhausted, as I mixed some nectar. After filling a bottlecap with the solution, I dipped the tip of his beak into the nectar. He drank eagerly and remained in the palm of my hand for at least ten minutes, resting. I was transfixed by his iridescent beauty.
Once he was ready, he flew off... and yet perched nearby as if to say "Thank You" In the coming days, he returned from time to time, hovering nearby.
The beauty of this creature and our moments together is forever etched into my soul."
The hummingbird first emerged on the reverse side of the painting "Sticks and Stones" while processing and transforming loss. Above from left to right, the Hummingbird series starts with (1) Sticks and Stones (danger), moves through being trapped in (2) The Web, (3) a closeup of struggling and being ensnared by The Web, Finding ones strength and beauty in (4) Finally Free, and ultimately moves into (5) Joy.
The hummingbird had been struggling mightily all day, and was fully trapped in the web which by now had been spun into sticky ropes coating its head and body. I pulled him from the web and, as he sat quietly in the palm of my hand, I carefully removed the webbing from his delicate feet, from his beak and from around his neck and wings. He remained cupped in the palm of my hand, apparently exhausted, as I mixed some nectar. After filling a bottlecap with the solution, I dipped the tip of his beak into the nectar. He drank eagerly and remained in the palm of my hand for at least ten minutes, resting. I was transfixed by his iridescent beauty.
Once he was ready, he flew off... and yet perched nearby as if to say "Thank You" In the coming days, he returned from time to time, hovering nearby.
The beauty of this creature and our moments together is forever etched into my soul."
The hummingbird first emerged on the reverse side of the painting "Sticks and Stones" while processing and transforming loss. Above from left to right, the Hummingbird series starts with (1) Sticks and Stones (danger), moves through being trapped in (2) The Web, (3) a closeup of struggling and being ensnared by The Web, Finding ones strength and beauty in (4) Finally Free, and ultimately moves into (5) Joy.
Reclaiming Tuesday Series
"This series came about as I both processed my time on the Lake County Board of Supervisors, the loss of my sisters, and my true love for both creativity and the Universe Story (the story of Earth, and how Earth earths). It starts with returning the Ring of Power, and then "reclaiming Tuesday"--each letter in the word TUESDAY represents a transformational ethic, practice or principle found in nature. "
from the top, left to right...
Ring of Power
"I wore the One Ring during the Board of Supervisors meetings as a reminder of the dangers of ego in the process of service. The ring was thrown into “the fires of Mt. Konocti” at the end of my term in office."
The Problem is an Opportunity
One of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized in my book Tending the Soul’s Garden. This painting features the Tomorrowland symbol as a reminder to choose to believe in possibility.
Unknown Good Benefit
One of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized Tending the Soul’s Garden. Good soil creates unknown good benefit for the future.
Earth Care
One of three primary intentions in ecological design is “Earth Care.” The other two are “People Care” and “Return the Surplus to Earth and People.”
Start Small
“Start Small then Expand” is one of three root practices in ecological design. The other two practices are “Whole Systems Thinking” and “Thoughtful and Protracted Observation.”
Dream Drives the Action (aka "Dream Machine")
Mystic Thomas Berry once said “The Dream Drives the Action” This painting celebrates dreams that come true... dreams for Lake County included an abundant local food system and permaculture (ecological design) community.
Aware
Also known as House of Cards. This painting features a sampling of doodles and notes while seated on the Board of Supervisors-- a reflection of being present and aware of the energies in the moment. The cards held together with gold depict the challenges of holding together public services with limited resources.
Yield is Theoretically Unlimited
This celebrates one of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized Tending the Soul’s Garden. This painting is a celebration of nature’s abundance and transformative possibilities.
from the top, left to right...
Ring of Power
"I wore the One Ring during the Board of Supervisors meetings as a reminder of the dangers of ego in the process of service. The ring was thrown into “the fires of Mt. Konocti” at the end of my term in office."
The Problem is an Opportunity
One of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized in my book Tending the Soul’s Garden. This painting features the Tomorrowland symbol as a reminder to choose to believe in possibility.
Unknown Good Benefit
One of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized Tending the Soul’s Garden. Good soil creates unknown good benefit for the future.
Earth Care
One of three primary intentions in ecological design is “Earth Care.” The other two are “People Care” and “Return the Surplus to Earth and People.”
Start Small
“Start Small then Expand” is one of three root practices in ecological design. The other two practices are “Whole Systems Thinking” and “Thoughtful and Protracted Observation.”
Dream Drives the Action (aka "Dream Machine")
Mystic Thomas Berry once said “The Dream Drives the Action” This painting celebrates dreams that come true... dreams for Lake County included an abundant local food system and permaculture (ecological design) community.
Aware
Also known as House of Cards. This painting features a sampling of doodles and notes while seated on the Board of Supervisors-- a reflection of being present and aware of the energies in the moment. The cards held together with gold depict the challenges of holding together public services with limited resources.
Yield is Theoretically Unlimited
This celebrates one of the thirteen ecological design principles summarized Tending the Soul’s Garden. This painting is a celebration of nature’s abundance and transformative possibilities.
Ceramics
Photos
About Denise's Art
Born an artistic and sensitive child with a scientific mind, Denise Rushing found the natural world enchanting. She first became interested in nature-based arts as a young child experimenting with a variety of creative media including painting, ceramics, writing and poetry. For most of her life, she pursued both science and art. After earning a Bachelors of Science in environmental engineering from Stanford university and a pioneering career in energy efficiency technology, she went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in culture and spirituality from Holy Names University, where she also rekindled her childhood love of painting.
Today, Denise writes and paints to express her love of Earth and is passionate about art's power to inspire, transform and heal people and our planet home.
In addition to painting, Denise has since added pottery, poetry, photography and earthen construction to her arts repertoire.
Born an artistic and sensitive child with a scientific mind, Denise Rushing found the natural world enchanting. She first became interested in nature-based arts as a young child experimenting with a variety of creative media including painting, ceramics, writing and poetry. For most of her life, she pursued both science and art. After earning a Bachelors of Science in environmental engineering from Stanford university and a pioneering career in energy efficiency technology, she went on to receive a Master of Arts degree in culture and spirituality from Holy Names University, where she also rekindled her childhood love of painting.
Today, Denise writes and paints to express her love of Earth and is passionate about art's power to inspire, transform and heal people and our planet home.
In addition to painting, Denise has since added pottery, poetry, photography and earthen construction to her arts repertoire.