Is your artwork planned or spontaneous for the most Norman Rockwell Varga have moved me. Current artist like
part?
Olivia, Boris, Simon Beasley, Robert Crumb, Walt Disney and
Both, I sometimes put months of thought to a design and
even some of my Tiki artist folks like Doug Horne and others. I
develop lots of reference photos in file. Some pictures I have
have traveled all over the world teaching classes to other art-
taken my own photos and others, I search in magazines or
ists who inspire me as well. I have been teaching since my first
on the net for ideas. In the end I use my own original thought
class in 1978 and have been involved in pretty much in most
and create that image to my own liking. Other times, I have no
airbrush organized workshop programs and taught indepen-
reference and I just draw what I feel or see in my head. I then
dently as well. I am known as a T-shirt air brusher from the
paint it as if I was releasing a vision.
70-80s then a Custom Painter from the 80-90s and now Fine
art, I mostly work for my two Galleries in Hawaii and other loca-
Do you use a computer, plotter to help with design
tions that sell my fine art. Life as an air brusher has been quite
ideas?
a journey and still is growing. The roads of art have taken me
I use a computer mostly for email, hehe. As for creating on the
many paths, but in all my traveling the one thing I never forget
computer I get frustrated and just want to use a pencil. I do
to pack in my bag is an airbrush.
have a plotter and use it for lettering or some simple images. I
have used it to do many shapes for my bubbles though.
Mostly transparent or opaque colors used?
I use both opaque and transparent colors in my all my work. I
What inspires Dennis to paint?
also mix them together for a translucent color as well. I begin
My wife, Susan and daughter Indigo inspire me to be success-
with opaque and then adjust its tones with transparent s giv-
ful. Also my customers, I have had some for many years and
ing it more richness. I use the translucence when I do detailed
they depend on my creativity. Hawaii inspires my subjects and
work such as a face or small object where I want to control
settings as does the Island lifestyle. I also try to stay true to my
the colors’ ability for richness. By adding white to a color it
style of art and feel I have found my own nitch in a world full of
can build up to a gradual tone and once reached it will remain
skulls, flames and dragons.
there without going too far.
What keeps you motivated on those days when you just don’t
feel like painting but commission work needs to get finished?
Motivation is never an issue to me I wake up wanting to paint
and somedays can’t wait to begin. I work 5 days a week at my
shop and weekends in my home studio where I someday just
want to paint at home around my family and my two dogs Kona
and Tiki. I often ask them for their opinion of my paintings and
my wife will always tell me the truth, my daughter will seems to
like it and my dogs just plan love it always, hehe.
Who are some artists you’ve worked with?
Wow, this list is pretty large, forgive me if I can’t mention ev-
erybody but a few names I have worked closely with are Daniel
Power, Bob Spina, Tom Kelly, Christian Lassen, Craig Fraser,
Make Lavallee, Steve Vandemon, Mickey Harris, Jason Doll,
Vince Goodeve, Mike Learn, Fonzy, Gerlad Mendez, Jonathan
Pantaleon, Blake McCully (Crosseye), Tom Perwitt, Luca Pa-
gan and last but not least the late Robert Benedict who was
an incredible artist and my good friend who passed away. I
also assisted Sorayama while he was here in Hawaii. There
are also lots of local Hawaii talented artist that have worked
with me and that list goes on.
Which artist inspires you?
Each day can be different and I admire all art. I have a little of
every artist inside me I have worked with and still am amazed
by every new artist I meet. Looking at other art always gives
me inspiration and classic artists like Maxfeild Parrish, Dali,
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