Meet Denise Fike

We were lucky to catch up with Denise Fike recently and have shared our conversation below.

Denise, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My mother, my father and my husband had such faith in my talent that I felt that I could accomplish anything that I set my mind to.

Growing up in a household that valued art and beauty to such an extent that we developed photographs in a darkroom my father built. We welded sculpture from metals we sourced at a junkyard; we threw pots on a potters wheel and fired them in a kiln, creating vast amounts of pottery; we learned to oil paint and created enamel jewelry. While listening to Dave Brubeck. Everytime i hear Take Five, I am transported back to my childhood.

My husband loved my work and was intrigued how I could figure out a way to make my art. And he loved seeing the progression. And if I was stumped, he could always figure out a way to make my projects work. I always told my students at Moore college of art and Drexel University…marry an engineer. An engineer can make the craziest idea become viable.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I always wanted to be proud of my work. I wanted to be to work and raise my two boys. Freelance was the most obvious solution.
I was fortunate. I had a husband who supported every decision that I made. I taught at Moore and Drexel University part time. 15 hours a week.
I made custom wallpaper: wallpaper for children’s hospitals; freelance at advertising agencies; illustrated children’s books.

When my boys went to college I began creating large scale fashion paintings incorporating vintage wallpaper. They met with great success.

13 years ago my son said “ma, we are having a baby and you are going to watch him”, okay! That began a great new adventure. I adore being with my grandchildren. I needed to figure out a way to continue working, so, I developed a business that I could do in the evenings and weekends. Live fashion Illustration.

I attend Weddings, galas, parties , bridal showers, all types of events, and create a fashion illustration of guests in 5 minutes. It has been quite an exciting adventure.

Then, My son wrote a children’s book “ Nonna Makes A Salad, I’m nonna! And we have sold 300 copies. It features my grandson James and his friend Miles, and The Philadelphia Zoo,

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Take nothing for granted. When the Great Recession occurred, I said, “now everyone knows what it is like living the life of an artist”. You always have to ponder, to find a unique way to set yourself apart.

Work hard! Always! Practice your art even if you are not in the mood.

Know who you are and never let someone’s derogatory opinion throw you. Be confident,

And surround yourself with people who support and love you. That is essential.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

I lost my beloved husband of 53 years in January.
I was his caregiver for 6 years, and I would have cared for him forever.

He was my biggest champion, when I came home from an event, he would relish looking at the photos of the illustrations that I did.

I miss him terribly.

When I work, it enables me to focus on something other than my grief.
I must focus on the model in front of me and work to create something beautiful,
And I spend time at my studio painting, and struggling with new techniques which requires concentration.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Www.denisefike.com
• Instagram: denisefikedesigns

Image Credits

These are my photographs