The Gallery
A collection of Denise’s paintings and drawings. Many are now available as fine art prints, framed or unframed, in the shop!
Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
Josephine Baker arrived in Paris in 1925, at the beginning of the jazz era, to dance in the first all-black show, La Revue Nègre. Arriving as a young teenager she blossomed into the jazz icon of the 1920s and 30s. In the beginning she was the best Charleston dancer to ever grace the stage, who had a comedic persona that captivated her audiences. Later Josephine developed a sensual appeal that took Europe by storm. Her beauty inspired artists to paint her, dress designers to clothe her, and kings to propose to her. Far from the discrimination she experienced in America, Europe was enthralled with everything African and embraced her as their own.
Nicknamed Black Venus, Black Pearl and Creole Goddess, admirers bestowed a plethora of gifts, including diamonds and cars, and she received approximately 1,500 marriage proposals. During the Second World War, Josephine became a spy for the French Resistance and earned three medals of honour for her courage. She was never able to have children and so adopted 12 children, of different religions and ethnicities, calling them her Rainbow Tribe with the hope of showing how mankind can live together in peace. She loved animals, and at one time she owned a cheetah named Chiquita, shown next to her.
This painting represents one of my favorite swing songs, “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me” as played by Sidney Bechet. It is a hauntingly beautiful slow Lindy Hop and Charleston tempo that I dearly love dancing to. The music, note for note, is at her feet. The story of the painting has Josephine poised on the horizon of Paris as she is about to take the city by storm. Sitting next to her is her pet cheetah Chiquita, watching Sidney Bechet play to her. It is rumoured they were lovers, but it is doubtful if either broke the other’s heart as they were both quick to love and leave. This song was written in 1919 and was probably known to both of them, since it was at the height of popularity in its day.
At Last
This painting captures the first and last lines of the song “At Last” as sung by Etta James — “At last my love has come along… and here we are in heaven… for you are mine at last.” This painting is the first in a series of my dear friends Flavia and Pablo. This painting is not for sale at this time.
Available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
Sabine — Bellydancer
This piece was inspired by Sabine, a master sword dancer known internationally for her dancing and beauty. I took lessons from Sabine for a number of years, and attended many of her performances. She is a beautiful regal dancer specialising in American Tribal Bellydance which is quite different from cabaret bellydance.
Sabine, the painting, is one of the most unusual paintings I have painted, in that when I did the opening art show I invited Sabine to dance live. I like to match my paintings with a particular piece of music, making a visual and emotional experience.
Being the incredible performer that she is, she surprised me by choreographing a unique piece for the art show — an amazing dance starting off with showcasing one sword, then dropping down right in front of the painting and striking the exact same pose as in the painting — to which the audience burst into applause and giggles of delight, and then she picked up a second sword and finished the performance with a dazzling display of skill, stopping on a dime at the end, to a standing ovation.
I have to say she stole the show! This whole performance is on YouTube on my gallery channel, you can see it here.
The sword sequence runs from 3:15 to about 4:50 — including the moment she drops in front of the painting and strikes the same pose.
One of the things that I love about this style of dance is that it reminds me of Jazz, yes Jazz, because after you learn some basic vocabulary even beginners can learn to make a formation of four dancers in a diamond, then dancers rotate to the front position, where the lead dancer at the moment can choose the step she will dance and the others follow — very improvisational! And very fun!
It looks like a structured performance but it is actually an improvised playtime for the dancers without any rehearsal, except for hours spent learning this beautiful dance!
This painting has been sold now, but is available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
I Declare
I was not in England when the Queen passed. I had just left two days earlier for a necessary trip abroad. As England pulled together to mourn their loss and comfort each other, I found myself alone and feeling very sad to be so far away and unable to experience the grieving process with others. By the time I did arrive back to the UK it felt like the world had moved on, but I had a lingering sadness and need to express my respect for the Queen.
As I studied her life, I was struck by the speech she made to the world on her 21st birthday — “I declare before you all with my whole life, whether it be long or short, shall be devoted to your service … God help me to make good my vow…” She was mature beyond her years.
On this first anniversary of her passing, I would like to introduce this painting, which hopes to capture a very contemplative moment in the last years of the Queen’s life — reflecting on that speech made so many years ago when she did not know how long she would live or what life would bring, and marvelling how God had indeed helped her to keep her promise to her people.
This painting is the first in a series — a mixed media of charcoal and pencil, done in black and white except for the blue of her eyes. The original is for sale at this time; contact me for details.
Available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
The Jitterbug Phantom
Swing Era Series
This painting was commissioned by Michael D’Angelo. He wanted this Art Deco train, the New York Central, and a few buildings; I suggested hallmark buildings in the two cities it travelled between — Chicago and New York. I took three famous landmarks for the background: the Manhattan Bridge, the Chrysler Building and the Chicago Theatre. I changed the wording on the marquee to represent a Lindy Hop championship. Notice there is a ballroom on the top floor with chandeliers, and the letters “G O” reflect in the window from the sign.
Soon after this painting was finished it was accepted by Visoni Greeting Card Company. When I didn’t have a title, Eddie suggested the Jitterbug Phantom. It was a perfect fit — Frankie had just passed away, and for me it became a memorial to him. Our Jitterbug Phantom, who will always be with us.
Savoy Lindy
The signature painting of the Frankie Project — Frankie Manning and Willa Mae Ricker caught mid-swing beneath the neon of the Savoy. Available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
Frankie Sketch
This sketch of Frankie Manning was inspired by a wonderful photo taken while we were dancing the Shim Sham. His pose and expression capture for me his Frankie-ness, his playful improvisational style while he dances.
Available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
Announcing the Frankie Project — a multimedia travelling show honouring Frankie Manning, legendary Lindy Hop founder. This show will include paintings and sketches by Denise Steele, vintage film clips of performances and workshops, photographs taken during the 1990s and more.
Mum… How Many?
“Mum … how many?” captures my niece at three years old after an Easter egg hunt. When all the bounty had been collected, the children sat in a circle and compared their fortunes. At one point, Ana looks up to her Mum and asks how many chocolate Easter eggs she can have, capturing a precious look of inquiry about an important moment in the life of a three-year-old. Originally this drawing was meant to be a study for a future painting — but perhaps it will be the finished piece? Created in graphite and charcoal.
The Blue Heron Series
My Blue Heron
This painting was my first oil! After painting many years in watercolours in Chinese brush painting style, I decided to go back to a more western style of art. A friend of mine made me a 10" x 10" hand-mounted canvas to experiment with. I decided to try oils for the first time, and although I enjoyed my experimentation, I decided I preferred a more water-based paint. The fumes made me quite ill and I decided to paint in a healthier medium.
It was a dilemma for me because the other alternative besides watercolours was acrylics and when acrylics first were introduced, they were very opaque and muddy.
I visited my local art store and asked for some advice. When the sales person heard my complaint about acrylics they asked how long had it been since I tried them… I replied about 30 years. She laughed, and said that “acrylics have changed a lot” and showed me an incredible spectrum of colours available in acrylics.
I have been happily painting with acrylics ever since and have never looked back… Although I have to say I am intrigued by water-based oils, doesn’t that sound like a conundrum?
Nevertheless, I have a set, and will experiment in the near future.
This painting is available as a fine art print, framed or unframed. We look forward to your visit.
Rising Above
I love herons, they are beautiful birds in flight and while walking along riverbanks, striking the occasional pose with long graceful necks and breast feathers.
This Heron has a completely different feel than My Blue Heron, which is more realistic, and is intentionally softer and more impressionistic.
The heron represents rising above adversity, and the moon represents the light and hope that strengthens us during difficult times. It’s a symbolic metaphor for eternal hope.
I hope you enjoy it.
Available as a fine art print, framed or unframed.
The Carousel Collection
This collection of illustrated animals is the beginning of a children’s alphabet colouring book I’m working on.
Each illustration has an animal representing the letter, a calligraphy stylised letter, and possibly a list of children’s names, so that children can find their names on the facing page.
I also plan to make it a fun party book that children or Moms can use to create a party theme for a birthday or celebration.
To complement this animal alphabet colouring book I am in the process of painting an English steam carousel of vintage animals. Stay tuned…
As this is a work in progress, I’m not sure when it will be completed. I will make individual letters available as I have time.
Let me know your thoughts! It will help move this project forward if you’re excited about it.
