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

Hi Denise, how do you think about risk?
I’ve learned that growth requires a willingness to take thoughtful risks. I don’t see risk as being reckless; I see it as stepping into the unknown when something is important to me.

One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was retiring after more than 23 years as a college professor and program director to pursue my art full-time. Leaving a stable career to follow a creative passion required confidence, flexibility, and trust in myself.

Risk has also been an important part of my artistic journey. Showing my work publicly, entering juried exhibitions, and exploring new creative directions all involve uncertainty and vulnerability. Yet those experiences have led to some of my greatest growth and opportunities.

I’ve found that the most rewarding moments in my life and career have come from being willing to step outside my comfort zone and embrace the unknown.

Portrait of a woman with dark braided hair, surrounded by colorful butterflies and flowers, wearing a patterned garment.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is about giving voice to women through collage and mixed media portraiture. Using layers of paper, paint, and texture, I explore themes of identity, resilience, and the stories we carry beneath the surface. What sets my work apart is that each portrait is detailed, but primary created by small hand torn and cut paper that I find in magazines and other sources. I am excited to start each new piece and the scavenger hunt for the paper I will use in it. It is so much fun finding the paper and deciding how I will use it in the art. I love the process, the hunt and the application.

My path to becoming a full-time artist was not a direct one. I spent more than twenty years as a college professor and program director before retiring to fully pursue my creative work. That transition required me to leave a successful career and take a leap of faith in myself and my art. My path has unfolded smoothy and given me assurance I am doing art that impacts others positively. I have learned to just keep doing the art that I love to create and the legwork that goes with getting the work out to the public.

What I want people to know about my work is that every woman has a story worth telling. Through my art, I hope to create moments of connection, reflection, and recognition, reminding viewers of the strength, beauty, and humanity we share.

Portrait of a woman with long, colorful braided hair, wearing a vibrant patterned garment and a floral headpiece, against a gold background.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If friends were visiting from out of town, I would start by taking them to Liberty Station, where I have my studio in the Arts District. It’s one of my favorite places in San Diego, with galleries, artist studios, restaurants, parks, and community events happening year-round. I would introduce them to fellow artists and spend time exploring the creative energy of the area.

From there, we’d hike at Torrey Pines Reserve and enjoy the spectacular ocean views, then spend time in La Jolla Village shopping, exploring, and having lunch. We’d also visit Carlsbad Village for its charming shops, restaurants, and beachside atmosphere.

In Oceanside, we’d enjoy dinner at one of the city’s newer restaurants and visit the Oceanside Museum of Art. We’d tour Coronado Island and stop for a drink at the historic Hotel del Coronado. To experience San Diego’s nightlife, we’d head to the Gaslamp Quarter downtown. Finally, we’d spend an afternoon in Balboa Park exploring its museums and gardens before ending the day with a live performance at the Old Globe Theatre.

Portrait of a woman with blonde curly hair, wearing a headband with feathers, against a collage background.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I was inspired by the work of artist Derek Gores. If I had not discovered his work, I would not be working as an artist today. He talked to me on the phone and was so kind and encouraging as well.

Website: https://www.deniserudy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drudy144/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denise.rudy.9/

A woman with long, flowing hair stands in a colorful dress against a textured background.

Portrait of a woman with colorful headscarf and earrings, created with collage of paper pieces, facing forward.

Two women with closed eyes and flowing hair, one with dark hair and the other with fiery red hair, in a colorful background.

Person sitting cross-legged on a beach, facing away, with red hair, wearing a blue top and denim shorts, ocean background.

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutSoCal is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.