Denise Graham

Denise Graham begins her polymer clay paintings with a flat surface of baked, cured, fired scrap clay in sheet form to which she applies her clay pigments and sculptural elements. Often the raw clay is applied much like impasto which is baked as a final step.

Sometimes Denise reverts to her watercolor background and paints a background using watercolors on paper. She covers the watercolor background with glass and glues sculptural elements to the glass in selected areas.

Denise’s clay painting "Utah Horizon" won second place in the International Guild's 2007 Progress and Possibilities International Juried Show within the alternative use category.

Home and Garden Television showcased Denise’s Sunflower Clay Painting on "That’s Clever" in December 2005. Images of her work appear in the publication "Polymer Clay Creative Traditions".

She is co-founder of the Pittsburgh Polymer Clay Guild, Guild Officer, and NPCG Slide bank Chairperson. Denise gives demonstration talks and teaches on occasion. Her work is represented in several Pittsburgh galleries.


Denise Graham • Pittsburgh, PA \| Back
Denise Graham begins her polymer clay paintings with a flat surface of baked, cured, fired scrap clay in sheet form to which she applies her clay pigments and sculptural elements. Often the raw clay is applied much like impasto which is baked as a final step. Sometimes Denise reverts to her watercolor background and paints a background using watercolors on paper. She covers the watercolor background with glass and glues sculptural elements to the glass in selected areas. Denise’s clay painting "Utah Horizon" won second place in the International Guild's 2007 Progress and Possibilities International Juried Show within the alternative use category. Home and Garden Television showcased Denise’s Sunflower Clay Painting on "That’s Clever" in December 2005. Images of her work appear in the publication "Polymer Clay Creative Traditions". She is co-founder of the Pittsburgh Polymer Clay Guild, Guild Officer, and NPCG Slide bank Chairperson. Denise gives demonstration talks and teaches on occasion. Her work is represented in several Pittsburgh galleries.


Summer's Fruit Achieving a watercolor effect was a delightful challenge in this painting. In addition to polymer alcohol inks and acrylic paints enhance the overall effect.	Spring Blossoms 8 x 10 A companion piece to Summer's Fruit, my goal was to achieve a soft pastel like background for these crisp petals. Pastel Chalks, and mica powders give the background its subtle hues.

Winter's Road 12 x 13	Utah Horizon 12 x 13 2007 Progress & Possibilities 2nd Place Winner in the category of Alternative Use of Medium

Sunflower Arch 10 x 10	Bouquet 8 x 10

Floral of Four 8 x 8 Polymer flowers are mounted on glass with background of 300# arches watercolor	Far East Blossom 5 x 7

In or Out 24" x 24" 324 one-inch tiles. Unique in form, color and texture, blending together in questioning conversation with the viewer. Which, shape, color, pattern belong in what place? Why is one square blank? My largest piece to date.	Circles and Dots - Study of Shapes 12" x 12" This piece is a culmination of techniques written about in an article for Polymer Cafe Magazine August 2008, Vol 6 No. 5.

Cotswold Estate 12 x 13	Nativity 5 x 6 Foundation is composed of molded paper clay tinted with color wash

Denise Graham • Pittsburgh, PA | Back