Denise LaRue Mahlke

n earnest observation and study of nature’s nuances, Denise finds the emotional and spiritual connection that is ultimately revealed in her sensitive portrayals of the American landscape.

Her paintings evoke a sense of peace, intimately connecting the viewer with place. “Painting allows me to communicate the celebratory beauty of God’s creation with others.”

Denise has been drawing most of her life, beginning when she was just a toddler. Encouraged by her family, she took art lessons when she was quite young, then later studied with artists she admired and respected through workshops. “Most artists I have met and studied with are very warm and giving people. Through the years, I have been truly blessed to have learned from a number of outstanding artists, who have become my colleagues and friends.”

A professional artist since 1998, Denise has gained national recognition for her landscape paintings which have been featured in numerous publications, including Western Art & Architecture, Southwest Art, Plein Air, and Pastel Journal. She has been twice honored as winner of the First Place award in Landscape with the Art Renewal Center’s International Salon. In 2013, she was awarded the Gold Medal for works on paper and Best of Show award at the Phoenix Art Museum’s West Select show. Her artwork can be found in private and public collections throughout the US and abroad.

“I find great inspiration in the beauty of big cloud-filled skies and wide-open places, but I am also drawn to quiet, intimate scenes that require a closer look. Subtleties in nature excite me, particularly the exquisite light and atmosphere found early or late in the day.

Annual painting trips, mostly out West, bring new horizons to explore, making a lasting impression on my work.”