Meet Dena Tollefson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dena Tollefson.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I always wanted to be an artist. When I was in elementary school, an artist mentor came to our school and singled me out for individual lessons as they thought I had promise. I get my creativity from my mother who is a teacher and artist and my father who is an engineer and patent holder. My parents encouraged me to be an engineer since I am good at math and science, so I pursued both engineering and art for 25 years, and have been represented by art galleries since 2000. Six years ago I left engineering to pursue art full time as I could not keep up with the demand from the galleries around the US who represent my originals. Plano is close to my heart as it is the place my husband and I started our married life together.

Please tell us about your art.
I create paintings in a painting technique I developed called Daubism. It is called daubism for the daubs of paint applied with palette knives and spoons. I have always been fascinated with mosaics and strive for a mosaic effect in paint. My work is a 3-dimensional, textured effect on the canvas. It is a hybrid between traditional impasto painting, mosaic, and low relief sculpture. If you want to reach out and touch the painting, I feel I have done my job. I want my collectors to experience a feeling of joy and peacefulness when they own my work and work hard to fill my paintings with these emotions. I am a Christian, and my Sky Series of paintings are my interpretation of how God created Earth with His breath. Every day He gives us a new sunrise and a new sunset.

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
The biggest challenge facing artists today is how to remain focused. There are so many pulls on one’s time for social media, producing work for galleries, and the deluge of inputs which can feel overwhelming. I have found staying organized and setting aside time for recreation, exercise, family time, art-making time, and social media/art marketing time in balance.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I appreciate my collectors! I sell originals and prints and am active on social media.

My originals are available exclusively through the galleries who represent me nationally in New Mexico, California, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Two of my paintings are in the permanent collection of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and my work hangs publicly and in private collections throughout the world.

Prints of my work are available on iCanvas who licenses my prints icanvas.com/canvas-art-prints/artist/dena-tollefson

Learn more at my website www.denatollefson.com

Find my favorite art supplies
Amazon: www.amazon.com/shop/dena_tollefson
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/dena_tollefson
YouTube: www.youtube.com/denatollefson

Contact Info:

• Website: www.denatollefson.com
• Instagram: Instagram.com/dena_tollefson
• Facebook: facebook.com/DenaTollefsonArt
• Other: youtube.com/denatollefson

Image Credit:
Dena Tollefson

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