Darcel Deneau loves to piece together art that reflects Detroit’s eclectic beauty.
She has used her stunning stained glass mosaic pieces to counter the negative, ‘ruin porn’ mindset that engulfed Detroit some years ago. She wanted to give urban landscapes a positive message.
A native of Detroit who moved back to the city in 2017, Deneau was a guest artist in the Mint Summer Jobs program in July, giving insights into mosaic making and the importance of creating work you’re proud of. She works from her studio in the Pioneer Building using in stray pieces – “treasures” such as rusted screws or washers or occasional larger pieces – and adds them to shiny stained glass.
She used to work as a landscape oil painter until she discovered the joys of “painting with glass” through taking a mosaics workshop with a friend. “It’s amazing how much my painting background relates to mosaics,” she said. Hear more about her career and move into mosaics in this long YouTube interview with Mosaic Arts.
She has a solo exhibit called Three Great Artists: Three Great Exhibits at the N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art in Detroit through Jan. 23. Her newest work there explores how gun violence impacts families and communities, a theme that strikes home for her. Deneau’s father was killed by a bullet when he was 54.
Since then, she has refocused herself on art making. A 2021 Kresge Artist fellow, Darcel Deneau graduated from College for Creative Studies when her children were in middle school.
“Becoming a well-rounded artist is critical,“ she told the Mint Artists. See more of her work in her website and on Instagram.)
When you’re at an art fair or gallery opening, “you don’t have to be aggressive. Just be there and put your best art work out,” she advised. Her work is in private collections and at Mosaic Arts International among other places.
Her advice to young artists involves the power of persistence and of ignoring rejection or negative comments. “Toughen up…. Find the discipline to keep moving forward,” she told Mint Artists.
Darcel Deneau’s advice for artists’ block
A Mint Artist asked Darcel Deneau how she overcame artists’ block, or a lack of motivation and inspiration. She gave such awesome advice that we share it with all artists.
- Focus on making something familiar and recognizable.
- Play around. Create something you have never made before.
- Renew your sense of inspiration.
- Go for a walk. Go shopping. Meet up with friends.
- Keep a journal.
- Develop a list of ideas.
If you need more assistance with artists’ block, read this long guide from The Pointless Artist.
By Vickie Elmer with Ta’Mya Jackson;
Art used with permission of Darcel Deneau
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