BELLEFONTE —

One of the more than 60 artists listed in the Bellefonte Art Museum’s registry is Denise Wagner. Here is her statement:

Denise Wagner is a painter, photographer, and environmentalist who creates art and photographs of the natural beauty around her.

 I have always had a love for creating art and photographing the wild countryside, and have been combining the two to create colorful and vibrant paintings in pastel, oil, and acrylic.

My favorite subjects are wild birds and animals. The vivid colors and details are a challenge to paint, and they are a reminder of the fragile ecosystem that is disappearing around us.

I have been an artist and photographer for over thirty years. I graduated with honors in 1991 from Penn State University, majoring in Fine Art and Biology.

I worked as a scientific illustrator, videographer, and photographer for Penn State University until my retirement.

My scientific illustration work can be viewed at Science-Art.com:

My acrylic work “Dinchers Roadside” was part of an exhibition at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

I am also a member of the Farmland Preservation Artists, The Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society, and the Bellefonte Art Museum.

My artwork has been displayed in shows at the Central Pennsylvania Pastel Society, the Gamble Mill Tavern in Bellefonte, Pa, the Art Alliance of Central Pa, Foxdale Village Art Gallery, Nittany Valley Chiropractic Center in State College, Pa., Green Drake Gallery, Bellefonte Art Museum, Elk Creek Cafe, and the State College Framing Company and Gallery.

I currently have an ongoing exhibition of bird and raptor paintings at the State College Framing Company and Gallery.

I am also a long-time volunteer at the Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, creating a series of "Birds of Prey" paintings, presenting wildlife and flower painting demonstrations, teaching photography and art workshops, and designing web pages, brochures, and art for their newsletter.

I also donated a painting titled "Snuggle Up" to Pennsylvania's Centre County Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) for their annual Fur Ball.

I contribute artwork and photographs to Centre Wildlife Care for their annual “Wild About Animals Event.”

My art can be seen at dwagnerfineart.com and my photographs at dwagnerphotos.com.

The Bellefonte Art Museum celebrates the human spirit through the arts, recognizing the importance of art in our lives. In 2011, the museum experienced a large increase in attendance, private donations and membership and completed refurbishing the historic Linn House.  The museum opened three new galleries: the Children’s Creativity Center, the Anna Wagner Keichline Gallery and the new Louise Bloom Sieg Gallery. The museum is opened Friday through Sunday from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Phone 814.355.4280.