D.E. Valenza

The southwest desert is finally my home.

Program Affiliations: Open Studio Tours Artist

About D.E. Valenza

As a child, vacations to the southwest had a major influence on me and later, my artworks. Throughout my life I was drawn to the desert. The desert was always unconsciously there, even my childhood dinnerware was the popular Franciscan pattern: "Desert Rose” which I use today! So after years of longing to be in the desert, in 2017 my dream came to a reality when my husband and I moved Arizona. I finally am home.
Artists that have inspired me are Matisse, Kandinsky, Gauguin, Modigliani, and my university art professors, Ugo Giannini, David Kwo and Sr. Gerardine Mueller,OP.
I do believe in an afterlife and feel spirit guidance. “My Ancestors are whispering in my ear and giving me positive energy and vibrations.
When involved in the art of creating a piece, “I am like an actor in the moment, so in character that at times I don’t know how I created the piece, or if I can ever again repeat the performance in exactly the same way.”
You can go to my website for more info about me and my works. www.doreenvalenza.com

https://www.doreenvalenza.com

Shield Maidens Standing Together

When I was working on this series I felt that these faces starring back at me were powerful and fierce and I wondered where was I going with these images. They slowly evolved by the addition of several symbolic images- Crosses, Birds & feathers.

Crosses dividing the face – We are all two spirits the good and evil, the yes & no.

Birds- I put birds on the eyes- Birds eye view of life! They are soaring through the sky with their eyes wide open! I like the old saying “See the soul through ones eyes”

I read that 2 crows are good luck and that the thunderbird is the bird of happiness.

“For those who follow the Norse pantheon, Odin is often represented by the raven—usually a pair of them. Early artwork depicts him as being accompanied by two black birds, who are described in the Eddas as Huginn and Munnin. Their names translate to “thought” and “memory,” and their job is to serve as Odin’s spies, bringing him news each night from the land of men.” -From learnreligions.com

Feathers: In different Native American communities, the feather has many different meanings. It represents wisdom, spirituality, honor, respect, energy and also represents the sky and air. Different tribes- different meanings. Note: I used cut and painted featheres – Only Native Americans are allowed to use real feathers in their artworks.

Visitors to the Cornfield

Visitors to the CornField

VISITORS TO THE CORNFIELD

Another painting from my continuing series -Visitors to the Cornfield / Galax Gemini

I work in 3s.. 3 figures, three birds.

Crosses dividing the face – We are all two spirits the good and evil, the yes & no.

Birds- I put birds on the eyes- Birds eye view of life! They are. soaring through the sky with their eyes wide open! I like the old saying “See the soul through ones eyes

Feathers: In different Native American communities, the feather has many different meanings. It represents wisdom, spirituality, honor, respect, energy and also represents the sky and air. Different tribes- different meanings. Note: I only use painted and cut paper for feather shapes Only Native Americans are allowed to use real feathers in their artworks.

Memento Mori- Rapsodia

MEMEMTO MORI- RAPSODIA

MEMEMTO MORI- RAPSODIA This "Memento Mori" is a rememberance of my Nonna and Mama. I used bottle tops that I hammered down & painted gold for the "Milagros"- then pasted old photogrphs of my Nonna and Mama into the tops. All the other figures and items are cut and pasted paper. NFS

Open Studio Tour

About the Process

My inspiration and subject matter ranges from science fiction, ancient goddess, cave paintings, masks and worldwide indigenous peoples. My works incorporate collage techniques, combinations of cut painted paper, acrylic, gouache on masonite & canvas. I enjoy the challenge of cutting the paper into pieces, painting them, working on the composition and finally gluing it all down. They are design puzzles with no preconceived plan. The work evolves layer-by-layer, piece-by-piece, all while trying to incorporate a strong composition while utilizing elements of design and balance. I approach each work as a design problem with a solution.
My concentration has been an exploration of several recurring series & the evolution of those series. The series continue to evolve & are in a perpetual and constant state of transformation.
The process is that of change with years of effort beneath the layers.