Dennis E. "Denny" Dent (April 5, 1948 – March 29, 2004) was an American speed painter who was known for his frenetic performances as he painted large portraits of celebrities.[1]
Dent was born in Oakland, California to a family of artists and graduated from Oakland High School. "My grandfather was ambidextrous," he says, giving a nod to the gene pool for his two-fisted talents, "a cabinetmaker and an artist. My mother was a painter and always told me I was an artist. That's the heritage of the family." Though no one's been able to verify it, Dent's grandfather insisted they are direct descendants of Titian, the Renaissance Italian master. He credited his mother and speed painter D. Westry with influencing his art. His style emerged after he painted a spontaneous portrait of John Lennon at a 1980 vigil. Dent married Ali Christina Flores.[2]
A Denny Dent performance, which he referred to as a "Two-Fisted Art Attack," consisted of him rapidly painting on a 6-foot-tall (1.8 m) black canvas with multiple brushes in both hands, as well as painting with his bare hands, to a musical accompaniment. Over the course of just a few pop/rock songs, he would complete a portrait. His subjects were most often musicians, but also included other entertainers, sports figures, and political leaders. One of his most famous performances was at the Woodstock '94 concert.[3]
Dent could also paint with his feet, but seldom did so in public. What he called his "dance on canvas" featured maniacal, mesmerizing movement, but he regarded the sermons he shouted over the music while he painted as his main mission. He said he turned down mention in Guinness World Records as the world's fastest artist because he feared the distinction might detract from his inspirational message about the saving graces of art.[1]
"I'm out to disturb the heart of the nation," he told former President Gerald Ford when he painted him in eight minutes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News in 1995. "I've got no time to lose."[1]
On the History channel series Pawn Stars, Dent's green painting of Jim Morrison is featured prominently on a wall of the shop.[5] The shop also has on display Dent's paintings of Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix, and in one episode acquired a portrait of John Lennon painted by Dent.[6]
Referencesedit
^ abcMartin, Douglas (April 4, 2004). Denny Dent, Who Made a Performance Out of Painting the Famous, Dies at 55, The New York Times.
^Presco, Jon Copyright 2014 (February 9, 2014) Tales of the Artful Stalker Ten rosamondpress
^Martin, Claire (March 31, 2004). Denny Dent painted with frenetic style. Denver Post
^Harrison, Rick (2011). License to Pawn: Deals, Steals, and My Life at the Gold & Silver 2011. Hyperion, New York. ISBN978-1-4013-2430-8.
^"Family Feud" episode of Pawn Stars, first broadcast on History on May 28, 2012.
External linksedit
Denny Dent official site
May 08, 2024
denny, dent, dennis, denny, dent, april, 1948, march, 2004, american, speed, painter, known, frenetic, performances, painted, large, portraits, celebrities, painting, martin, luther, king, tufts, university, spring, fling, 1995, painting, currently, hangs, may. Dennis E Denny Dent April 5 1948 March 29 2004 was an American speed painter who was known for his frenetic performances as he painted large portraits of celebrities 1 Denny Dent painting Martin Luther King Jr at the Tufts University Spring Fling in 1995 The painting currently hangs in the Mayer Campus Center at Tufts Dent was born in Oakland California to a family of artists and graduated from Oakland High School My grandfather was ambidextrous he says giving a nod to the gene pool for his two fisted talents a cabinetmaker and an artist My mother was a painter and always told me I was an artist That s the heritage of the family Though no one s been able to verify it Dent s grandfather insisted they are direct descendants of Titian the Renaissance Italian master He credited his mother and speed painter D Westry with influencing his art His style emerged after he painted a spontaneous portrait of John Lennon at a 1980 vigil Dent married Ali Christina Flores 2 A Denny Dent performance which he referred to as a Two Fisted Art Attack consisted of him rapidly painting on a 6 foot tall 1 8 m black canvas with multiple brushes in both hands as well as painting with his bare hands to a musical accompaniment Over the course of just a few pop rock songs he would complete a portrait His subjects were most often musicians but also included other entertainers sports figures and political leaders One of his most famous performances was at the Woodstock 94 concert 3 Dent could also paint with his feet but seldom did so in public What he called his dance on canvas featured maniacal mesmerizing movement but he regarded the sermons he shouted over the music while he painted as his main mission He said he turned down mention in Guinness World Records as the world s fastest artist because he feared the distinction might detract from his inspirational message about the saving graces of art 1 I m out to disturb the heart of the nation he told former President Gerald Ford when he painted him in eight minutes at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas according to an article in the Rocky Mountain News in 1995 I ve got no time to lose 1 A painting that Dent did of Albert Einstein hangs in the Lecture Halls building at the St Louis Community College Meramec campus Dent died in Denver of complications from a heart attack 4 In popular culture editOn the History channel series Pawn Stars Dent s green painting of Jim Morrison is featured prominently on a wall of the shop 5 The shop also has on display Dent s paintings of Stevie Wonder and Jimi Hendrix and in one episode acquired a portrait of John Lennon painted by Dent 6 References edit a b c Martin Douglas April 4 2004 Denny Dent Who Made a Performance Out of Painting the Famous Dies at 55 The New York Times Denny Dent Facebook Page Facebook Presco Jon Copyright 2014 February 9 2014 Tales of the Artful Stalker Ten rosamondpress Martin Claire March 31 2004 Denny Dent painted with frenetic style Denver Post Harrison Rick 2011 License to Pawn Deals Steals and My Life at the Gold amp Silver 2011 Hyperion New York ISBN 978 1 4013 2430 8 Family Feud episode of Pawn Stars first broadcast on History on May 28 2012 External links editDenny Dent official site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Denny Dent amp oldid 1147523438, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
