Mika (pronounced Meeka) Denny is a Southern California based figurative artist. She was awarded a 4-year scholarship from the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California to pursue a creative arts degree. After a successful, decades-long career in graphic design, Mika launched on a journey of creative exploration delving into painting, ceramics and crafting. About 5 years ago, she found her place and rediscovered her true love of drawing figurative art and is now focusing on that exclusively. Her portrait drawings capture emotion and dramatic light leaving the viewer wanting to know the story behind the subject. She creates her drawings with Pan Pastel and charcoal pencil on toned paper. Her work leans toward realism in its style, but her approach retains an expressive aesthetic that breathes life into her subjects.
Mika is a member of the Portrait Society of America, The California Art Club and American Women Artists.
Now offering online portrait workshops through Kara Bullock Art School
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EDUCATION
• Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design : Cal State Fullerton, California
• 4 Year College Scholarship : Awarded from The Festival of Arts, Laguna Beach, CA
Fine Art Exhibitions & Awards
• American Women Artist's Annual Juried Exhibition "Pushing Forward Reaching Back" at Brookgreen Gardens in South Carolina- May 2023 — “Ella the Fierce” Multi-Media Drawing
• Tustin Art League Members Show- November 2022 — “Constellation” drawing awarded Best in Show and People's Choice; "All'Ombra" drawing awarded 2nd place in Mixed Media
• California Art Club-Excellence in Traditional Fine Art-Juried Exhibition-"Expressions, Gestures and Feelings" October 2022 — “Things Left Unseen 2” — Drawing awarded Second Place, juried by Suzanne Bellah, Director of the Carnegie Museum
• City of Laguna Beach 16th Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition, September 2022 — “Things Left Unseen 2” drawing selected, juried by Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum
• Martha's Vineyard Drawing Prize : International Juried Exhibition — September 2022 | "The Eulogy" drawing selected as Finalist
• Brand 50 : National Juried Exhibition of Works on Paper— September 2022 | "Lindsey" drawing selected, juried by Shannon Currie Holmes, Exhibition Supervisor at Brand Library & Art Center
• Anaheim Art Association : 58th Annual Juried Exhibition — September 2022 | 3 drawings selected: "Constellation" | "Zayne" | "All'Ombra, juried by Joe A Oakes — Awarded 2nd place in Mixed Media for "Zayne"
• O'Hanlon Center for The Arts : "Women Artists Making Their Mark" | Juried Exhibition — August 2022 “Things Left Unseen II” drawing selected, juried by Suzanne Gray and Donna Seager, owners of Seager/Gray Gallery
• Chemer's Gallery : 10th Annual "heART of Orange County All Media" | Juried Exhibition — May 2022 | "Things Left Unseen" drawing selected, juried by artist Kim VanDerHoek
• City of Laguna Beach "Art That's Small at the City Hall — April 2022 — "Things Left Unseen" — *City Hall Choice Award Winner
• Southern California Open Regional Exhibitions : "Chiaroscuro" | Juried Exhibition —September 2021 “Flower Girl” drawing selected, juried by Angela Phillips
• O'Hanlon Center for The Arts : "Women Artists Making Their Mark" | Juried Exhibition — August 2021 “Flower Girl” drawing selected, juried by Suzanne Gray and Donna Seager, owners of Seager/Gray Gallery
• Chemer's Gallery : 9th Annual "heART of Orange County All Media" | Juried Exhibition — July 2021 | "Flower Girl" drawing selected, juried by Stephen Anderson, Exhibition Coordinator at the OC Fair and Event Center
• Irvine Fine Arts Center : All Media 2021 Juried Exhibition — July 2021 | "Night Cook in New York" drawing selected, juried by Taylor Blythewood-Porter, Assistant Curator at California African American Museum
• City of Laguna Beach "Art That's Small at the City Hall — April 2021
• O'Hanlon Center for The Arts : "Women Artists Making Their Mark" | Juried Exhibition — September 2020 “Night Cook in New York” drawing selected, juried by Suzanne Gray and Donna Seager, owners of Seager/Gray Gallery
• Irvine Fine Arts Center : All Media 2018 Juried Exhibition — September 2018 “Dante” drawing selected, juried by Dave Barton, the arts writer for OC Weekly
• City of Laguna Beach “Art That’s Small at the City Hall”— April 2010
• City of Laguna Beach 3rd Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition, October 2009 — “Master Gardener” painting selected, juried by Grace Kook-Anderson, Curator of Laguna Art Museum
• Solo Exhibition at The Tranquil Tea Lounge, Fullerton — August 2009
• City of Laguna Beach “Art That’s Small at the City Hall”— March 2009
• City of Laguna Beach 2nd Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition — October 2008 — “Night Cook in Kyoto” photo selected, juried by Perin Mahler, Laguna College of Art and Design
• City of Laguna Beach “Art That’s Small at the City Hall” — March 2008
• City of Laguna Beach First Annual Juried Fine Art Exhibition, October 2007 — “Flowers for Morgan” painting selected, juried by Peter Blake, Peter Blake Gallery
• City of Laguna Beach “Art That’s Small at the City Hall — March 2007
DESIGN AWARDS
• Dana Point Festival of Whales : Logo Contest Winner : March 2020
• The Communicator Awards 2014 : Award of Excellence : Mavericks Logo Design
• The Communicator Awards 2014 : Award of Excellence : Transplant Games of America Logo Design
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2014 : Gold Award : Best Individual Illustration "85 Donuts & 5 Hungry Mice"
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2013 : Silver Award : Nothing But Rodeo Advertising
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2013 : Silver Award : Trip Rental Promo Brochure
• The Communicator Awards 2013 : Award of Excellence : Nothing But Rodeo Logo Design
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2012 : Gold Award : Tumbleweed Brand Identity
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2012 : Gold Award : Tumbleweed Advertising (Print, Social, Website)
• AIGA OC Design Awards 2012 : Most Liked on FB : Transplant Games of America
• IAEE Art of Show: Best Overall Ad Campaign
• IAEE Art of Show: Best Media Brochure
• Western Publishing Association : Best Overall Design Trade Magazine
• Western Publishing Association : Best Cover Design Trade Magazine
• Western Publishing Association : Best 4/C Editorial Layout