Biography Paintings
Denise Augustine- Ludovico

Her award- winning work adorns galleries, museums, and estates nationwide. Her private studio and school teaches the craft to adults and children aspiring to become equally accomplished artist.

Denise Augustine cultivated her love of art early in life through the art classes taken at her Chicago-area school and with the support and encouragement of her family. A particularly close bond with her Italian immigrant grandmother Maria Ludovico inspired her to adopt the signature now imprinted on so many works of art: Augustine- Ludovico .

Artist and instructor

How long have you been working as an artist?
Full time, since 1994.

What did you do before that?
I was an interior designer.

Were you always interested in art?
The first thing I remember is that I drew a picture of Steve Allen, who was the host of the Tonight Show. I was probably no more than 8 years old. My father sent it to him, and he sent back an autographed photo with a note that said, "Keep on painting." I also spent hours and hours drawing my grandmother, who was living with us. Her name was Maria Laudation, and that's how my studio got its name.

What made you decide to become a full-time artist?
I got divorced after 20 years of marriage, and I reassessed. I decided I wanted to live the rest of my life as I was meant to.

Was that scary?
Yes, because I was from such a practical background. My entire family is very practical, and I almost didn't do it.

You also teach art classes.
Well, that's my practical side. I opened this classroom to supplement the income I make selling my art. But there's a joy in that, too. If I can encourage one person to go with his gifts, or her gifts, that means a lot to me.

Do you have a regular schedule for painting, or is it just when inspiration strikes?
Well, a lot of my energy is used up by teaching, so that leaves me with Sunday, Friday and half of Thursday to paint. Basically, I paint every spare minute.

How many paintings do you produce?
It varies. Some take weeks, some take days. I'd say that over the course of a year, I'll produce 40 gallery paintings.

Looking around here, it seems that you paint people rather than objects or landscapes.
A lot of my work is figurative. I tap in more to the soul than to landscapes. Figurative really drives me.

What's your favorite thing about this job?
Probably meeting the buyers of my paintings. There's no bigger thrill than meeting someone who loves your work and wants to hang it in their home or their office. That's such a kick.

What's your least favorite thing?
Juggling time. I'm trying to do two things, and it takes both to make it financially.

You hear about starving artists. Do you ever feel like that?
Sometimes. We're a luxury, so any time the economy drops, artists will be hit.

What artists have influenced you?
The Old Masters, absolutely. Michelangelo, Rembrandt, Degas, Matisse. That's what I fear we're losing in our society. Children come to me, and they can't see soft lights and darks anymore. They see hard, linear images. That's from our computer technology. It takes time to get them to see again. And if we lose that, will we have any more Michelangelos?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to be an artist?
Stick with it. There is no school, no educator that's going to get you there. Just keep drawing and painting; stay true to yourself.
The above was taken from an article in the newspaper.

by JOHN REINAN
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 21, 2002