Holding onto Summer is an acrylic painted piece by contemporary expressionist painter and mixed media collage artist DJ Stenson, who, with encouragement from her daughter, reignited her childhood passion for creating art.
January is the peak winter month when bitter cold pierces our skin; we begin to dream about warm weather but must settle with patiently waiting for summer to come. DJ says this abstract piece, with vibrant zinnias, hydrangeas and other flowers, is a “hope of sorts that we, as a society, will protect nature and all its beauty. The flowers keep blooming through autumn, representing the feeling of wanting to hold on to summer.”
Early in life, DJ had a handful of supporters, most notably her parents and an art teacher who nurtured her craft. She went on to study graphic design in college and built a six-year career, setting aside her paint brushes and later transitioning into education. Then came DJ’s daughter, whose presence rekindled the spark she thought had faded for good. DJ dusted off her brushes and made a promise to herself that she would never give up painting again.
There’s a lot of activity happening in Holding onto Summer. Tapping into hyper-vivid and semi-abstract patterns, DJ wanted to emphasize the beauty of nature. “I hope that people feel joy and a connection to nature when they look at Holding onto Summer,” she said. “I hope it inspires people to protect the environment, and practice conservation as much as possible.”
Since painting again, DJ has participated in more than 70 art exhibits and has had her work featured at local galleries. She’s won several awards including the Milford Arts Council’s People’s Choice Award and Artist of the Week from the Torrington Collective. Currently, DJ combines her two passions of art and education, and always tells her students to “Practice. Experiment without worrying about how it will turn out. Make a glorious mess!”
To view more of DJ’s work and buy one of her pieces, visit DJStensonArt.com.