The Artist’s Way – Featuring Noreen Denzil

Julia Cameron’s work-book ‘An Artist’s Way’ is one of those books people say ‘reading that book changed my life.’

It is actually a 12 weeks course and as I say it is a work-book, Julia encourages you to use it as such.

It is a book I have recommended to others and one close friend who is a great example of how following the Artist’s Way can manifest success, is Noreen Denzil.

Noreen worked as an administrator in various jobs for over 2 decades and throughout those years struggled with finding the courage to live her dream to be a full-time artist.

However, she never lost sight of it or gave up on it.

Over the years Noreen always spoke of being an artist, and in her spare time pragmatically kept producing her Icon portraits and started marketing and selling them.

With determination and courage she never quit and I am so proud of what she overcame to now be a full-time successful artist!!

We have been friends for nearly 30 years and together we have supported each other and had so much fun pursuing our dreams and we still do to this day.

Here is what Noreen has to share about pursuing her dream.

‘Drawing and painting has been a passion of mine from an early age but it wasn’t until my early 20′s that I thought about taking my art more seriously and making it a career.

It one thing to think about what you would like to do but to put it into action is another.

I met Alison in my mid 20′s and she was the catalyst. She helped me to focus on my dream and continually was supportive particularly if I was feeling uninspired, she always made me concentrate on the positives and through that guidance my art sales started to increase over the years and event I became a full time portrait artist in November 2009.

I have had solo exhibitions in the famous Cork St, Mayfair, London. My work can be seen around galleries throughout the U.K. including my home town Glasgow.

My paintings are in various private collections including the worlwide CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi.

Sheryl Gascoigne, the premier league footballer Paul (Gazza) Gascoigne’s ex-wife, was delighted to accept my portrait of her as part of one of my private exhibitions in central London in 1997.

In 1999 I was invited to donate my portrait of the late Princess Diana to Jasper Conran who was Patron to the charity Fashion Acts, that supports people with HIV and AIDS.

Absolute Radio in London also display my works and Skin of Skunk Anansie recently posed for me.

All of these milestones and many others have been achieved with Alison’s invaluable mentoring and inspirational guidance.

She is a true inspiration and has a gift to tap into to your dreams and help make them a reality.‘

If you would like to see more of Noreen’s work or purchase or commission a piece [click here]

I am a great advocate of reading, books are a great resource for knowledge and ideas and a very cost effective way of educating and training yourself! So if you are thinking you haven’t got the money to retrain or learn new skills go to the library and get them there.

If you are creative and artistic and dream of living a life of a full-time artist, reading The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron may be a worthwhile investment of your time.

Read your way to success!!

Paint your dreams upon the canvas of your life.

Respectfully,

Alison

John Lennon and Twiggy Portraits copyright of Noreen Denzil

Photograph of Noreen by Flossie Maltby

Alison Day  2011