Podcasts

Episode 38 of Inside the Frame Podcast features award-winning painter Denise Graham, whose artistic journey has taken her from a career in graphic design to a celebrated presence in the South Shore arts scene. Fresh off her win in the 2025 North River Arts Society (NRAS) poster competition, sponsored by Frame Center, Denise joins host Dave Petty for a reflective, inspiring conversation about creativity, evolution, and the quiet moments that define an artist’s path.

From Graphic Design to Fine Art

Denise’s story began in Boston, where she studied at the New England School of Art and launched a career in advertising and graphic design. Although she loved the creative environment, the long hours left little time to explore her own art. It wasn’t until later, after raising a family and stepping away from the full-time grind, that she returned to painting with renewed passion.

Over the years, Denise transitioned through several mediums. She began with watercolor, then fell in love with the tactile richness of pastels before ultimately settling into acrylics and oils. “I like using brushes,” she explains. “I like mixing colors and changing my mind. Acrylics let me do that.”

A Prize-Winning Perspective

Her winning poster piece for the NRAS festival originated from a plein air session with her artist group, the Tuesday Painters, in the backyard of a fellow creative. Though inspired by real landscapes, Denise’s approach is interpretive and expressive, emphasizing bold shapes, color harmony, and emotional resonance over realism. The artwork will appear not only on this year’s festival poster but also on a limited-edition beer can—something her family (especially the millennials) finds exciting.

Denise donated the original piece to the NRAS festival raffle and was delighted to receive the Frame Center-sponsored prize check, which, she laughs, “was more than I had the painting priced at!”

Rooted in Community

For Denise, being part of a creative community is essential. She’s active in multiple local associations, including South Shore Art Center, North River Arts Society, and Plymouth Center for the Arts, and regularly paints outdoors with her peers. “It’s like having a personal trainer,” she jokes. “You show up because you don’t want to disappoint your group.” Beyond painting sessions, she values the camaraderie, encouragement, and shared purpose that keep her motivated.

Classes and workshops have also played a central role in her development. From abstract landscape courses with Suzette Levenson to countless juried exhibitions, Denise is always learning, growing, and sharing. Her work can currently be seen in shows at South Shore Art Center and North River, with recent exhibitions at Duxbury Free Library’s Helen Bumpus Gallery and the Plymouth Center for the Arts.

Finding Confidence and Artistic Identity

One of the most poignant moments in the podcast comes when Denise reflects on a letter her daughter wrote during college. In it, she described her mother simply as “an artist.” That was the moment Denise first truly saw herself as one. “We wear a lot of hats,” she says. “Mother, wife—but reading that helped me recognize this part of my identity.”

Her story is a reminder that artistic confidence doesn’t always arrive early, but when it does, it can fuel new chapters and bolder expressions.

Whether working in landscape or abstract, large-scale or square-format pieces, Denise continues to follow her curiosity, guided by color, intuition, and a strong sense of design honed from years of professional experience.

Frame Center is honored to sponsor the North River Arts Society poster competition and to support the artists who make our community vibrant. As a custom framing studio, fine art gallery, and creative partner, we are proud to help preserve and showcase the work of artists like Denise Graham. Visit us in Hanover or online to learn more about our services, artist features, and upcoming events.