Meet Denise Tirrel | Fine Artist with a Preference for Pet Portraits

We had the good fortune of connecting with Denise Tirrel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Denise, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
When I started to get seriously involved with art, it was primarily to serve as a balance to my stressful job. I uploaded a photo of a painting on my private social media account and suddenly requests started coming in asking if it was possible to buy this painting and if I would accept commissions. The reaction was surprising, because I just wanted to show how I spend a relaxing Sunday afternoon. The customer who bought this painting immediately commissioned two more. They in turn were seen by another customer who wanted to get theri pet painted.

Well, starting my own business was more the result of things taking on a life of their own than my planned thought. It was the people who liked my work and also my mentor, Karina Müller, who supported me where she could.

I am grateful for this development and want to give something back to the world with my art. Especially in the field of animal portraits, a lot of emotions resonate with the clients. Anyone who has a pet knows what I’m talking about.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Since childhood two passions accompany me, animals and art. Watching the local animals on long walks in the forest or seeing the beloved pet relaxing in its favorite position, where we as owners wonder how this is physically possible at all, are the moments that light up my heart.

I feel similarly about art. It is the canvas of my soul. With each work of art, I reveal a part of my soul by putting all my love and passion into it. Of course, this resonates only subconsciously, because in the foreground are our loved ones, with the sight of which we associate so much emotion and memories that we want to hold their sight for a long time and with us.

After school, art took a back seat in favor of training as an event manager. For the next few years, the only way I could devote myself to art was to do make-up for children at events.

After my training and a change of profession passed years in which I drew only sporadically.

It wasn’t until 2019 that art was put in my heart again. My aunt, Karina Müller, a successful artist in Andalusia, acted as a mentor and opened the door to the Andalusian art scene for me. I accompanied her to the largest annual open-air art exhibition in Spain, the “Paseo por el Arte” and made connections with other artists and cultural representatives.

As a self-taught artist, there were of course obstacles that stood in my way. A big factor in the beginning was experience with techniques and time. I had many requests, to motifs that I had never implemented before and because of the requests, no time to train me intensively before. So I lacked years of experience measured against my own demands.
But luckily I like challenges. Only when you try something will you know whether you can do it or not. I assume first and foremost that I can do it and so far the result confirms this.
The key is fearlessness, unconditional will and the discipline not to give up.

Since 2022 I am a member of “Las Pintoras”, a female artist group consisting of 9 artists from 4 nations. From 09.12. our collective exhibition “Andalucía-mi amor” can be seen at Casa Grande in Ayamonte.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
With nature-loving friends, I would stroll through the spa park here in Bad Bevensen, which leads into a great wooded area where you can hike or even climb in the high climbing park. A day at the Jod-Sole-Therme is also conceivable. A trip to Uelzen to the Hundertwasserbahnhof or hiking in the Lüneburger Heide are popular excursion destinations.

With adventurous city people, it goes to the metropolis of Hamburg. We would eat in the trendy scene district “Sternenschanze”, shopping at the “Neuer Wall”, the luxury address of Hamburg, sightseeing on foot for example the Hamburg City Hall and by ship, with a harbor cruise for example. Hamburg has more bridges than Amsterdam or Venice.
Of course, an evening at the crime theater “Imperial” or at one of the numerous musicals should not be missed. If you are still not exhausted, enjoy drinks high in the clouds at the Bar “Clouds” before it goes for a wild night on the Reeperbahn.
Even Soccer fans can choose to which Game they wanna go, we got two teams in Hamburg! Hamburg is famous for it’s derbys.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Definitely my aunt Karina Müller! She has put the art back in my heart, after a long break. 24/7 she stood and stands by my side. She takes me out of my comfort zone and pushes me to face new challenges.

Las Pintoras, a group of artists consisting of nine fabulous women from four nations: Spain, Portugal, Angola and Germany.
Ana Feu, Nuria Fuentes, Carla Mourão, Rocío Romero García, María Rosa Gómez Jiménez, Elisabete
Guerreiro, Manuela Santos y Karina Müller

My family & friends who listen patiently when I talk only about art again.

The wonderful people who, through their trust, make it possible for me to do what I love.

Website: https://www.denisetirrelfine.art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denisetirrel_fineart

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@denisetirrel_fineart