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Relocating from Texas to New Mexico, in 1976, it was here in the Land of Enchantment that Denise Imke finally found both the opportunity and the inspiration to pursue her lifelong interest in art.  Exploring many and varied mediums, such as watercolor, pastel, pen and ink, and silversmithing, Denise has always returned to her first love – that of oil painting. While working in several different genres, from detailed portraiture to impressionistic landscapes, classical still life remains her favorite. Denise’s still life paintings often feature antique southwest objects in a contemporary setting. In describing her love of still life, Denise says, “From the very first time I put a brush to canvas, I’ve been enamored with recording the beauty of ordinary objects. 

After completing her early art training at both New Mexico Junior College, and Eastern New Mexico University, Denise went on to study with such accomplished and well-known artists as Qiang Huang, Ben Konis, Lois Easley, Vickie Clark, Tom Darrah, and Ann Mann.  In 2003, Denise received a merit scholarship to the prestigious Scottsdale Artists’ School in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she studied with nationally acclaimed artist Sherrie McGraw.  And it was while at the Scottsdale Artists’ School that one of Denise’s paintings, entitled Copper Pot, was juried and accepted to appear on exhibit in its annual “Best and Brightest” show. In 2010, Denise became an associate member of “Oil Painters of America,” a national organization dedicated to representational oil painters. Denise was juried into the Salon International 2012 in San Antonio, Texas, featured in Southwest Art, September 2022, and juried into the 2024 Nation Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum’s Small Works, Great Wonders show.

“After painting for over thirty years,” Denise states, “I feel that I have only scratched the surface.  Art is an extremely important part of my life and certainly the most fun.”