About the Artist
My inspiration for painting most often begins with a connection to a particular place. I enjoy painting both outdoors and in the studio.
Plein air painting allows me to be immersed in the landscape setting with the changing light, sights, sounds, and wind. Often the light is changing so quickly that it forces me to respond directly to each moment. When painting outdoors I enjoy the challenge of creating a composition from the endless possibilities around me. It is through experiencing the location that I then decide what to paint. I also like to try to capture the atmosphere and the feeling of the air on a particular day.
I often create small studies outdoors that I later use in the studio as inspiration for larger paintings. These studies can be more useful than photographs as they contain color notes, gestures, and reminders of the feeling of the place. When painting in the studio I also work from memories of particular places.
The concept of impermanence is often a part of my work. I am drawn to observing the changes in the seasons and the light that shifts throughout each day. These transitions in the environment are reminders of the constantly changing nature of life, and they echo the challenge of living fully in each moment. Through my paintings I try to capture the magic of disappearing moments.
Exhibitions:
2026
Cape Cod Art Center, Summer National juried show, Barnstable, MA
Concord Center for the Visual Arts, "Flowers: A Members Exhibition" juried show, Concord, MA
The Gallery at Trades Mill, "Coastlines to Treelines" Juried show, Amesbury, MA
Cape Cod Art Center, Spring National juried show, Barnstable MA
Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Members Juried 2, Concord MA
Central Mass Pastel Society, "Pastels Plus International" Online Exhibition
Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Members Juried 1, Concord, MA
2025
Central Mass Pastel Society, "Marks of Distinction" national juried show, Harvard, MA
Gallery Twist "Illumination" Lexington, MA
Cape Cod Art Center, Summer National juried show, Barnstable, MA. Honorable Mention award for "Marsh Light"
Gallery Twist "Rooted and Grounded", Lexington, MA
Thornhill Art Gallery, Portsmouth, NH, "The Art of Spring"
Pastel Society of Maine, 24th Annual Juried Exhibit, "Pastels Only", online show
Central Mass Pastel Society, "Pastels Plus International"
2024
Gallery Twist, "Illumination", Lexington, MA
Harvard Conservation Trust, Destination Nature juried show, Fivesparks, Harvard, MA
Gallery Twist, "Fresh", Lexington MA
Danforth Museum Annual Juried Exhibition, Framingham MA
Central Mass Pastel Society, Marks of Distinction National Juried Show, Harvard , MA
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, annual juried exhibition For Pastels Only, Cape Cod Cultural Center
Newburyport Art National Juried Show
Central Mass Pastel Society, Pastels Plus International Online Exhibit
Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Members Juried 1, Concord MA
2023
Gallery Twist "Illumination"Lexington, MA
Harvard Conservation Trust, Destination Nature juried show, Fivesparks, Harvard MA
Artists for Lahaina auction fundraiser
Central Mass Pastel Society, Marks Of Distinction National Exhibition
American Impressionist Society, Associate Member Online Exhibition, national juried show
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only, national juried exhibit, Cultural Center of Cape Cod.
“Cape Shadows” received the Degas Pastel Society Award
Central Mass Pastel Society, Pastels Plus International Online Exhibition
Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Members Juried 1, Concord , MA
2022
Gallery Twist “Illumination”, Lexington, MA
Harvard Conservation Trust, Destination Nature juried show, Harvard, MA
Gallery Twist “Flights of Fancy”, Lexington MA
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only, national juried exhibit, Cultural Center of Cape Cod.
“Violet Breeze” received the Red Rock Pastel Society Award
2018-2021
Gallery Twist “Illumination”, Lexington MA
Newburyport Art Association Annual Regional Juried Show, Newburyport MA
Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, For Pastels Only, national juried exhibit, S.Yarmouth, MA
Central Mass Pastel Society, Online Members Show
The National Boston, Brookline, MA
Cape Cod Art Center, The National, national juried exhibit, Barnstable, MA
Lumina, Perspectives in Pastel, Wayland, MA
Cape Cod Art Center, Bay State Open, national juried exhibit, Barnstable, MA
Pastel Society of Maine Members Show
The Umbrella Community Arts Center Gallery, Concord, MA "Gathering Places"
Bio
Denise Theodores holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Syracuse University, where she focused on printmaking and photography. She currently works with oil paint and pastels, and enjoys painting landscapes both en plein air and in the studio.
She is a member of Concord Center for the Visual Arts, Cape Cod Art Center, and Central Massachusetts Pastel Society
