Denice Calley, a native Texan, describes herself as “blessed” with a passion for learning and exploring artistic techniques and mediums. At the age of eight she began taking oil painting classes from a local landscape artist, Sue Fox in her hometown of Nixon. She took classes on and off for the next couple of years all the while falling more and more in love with painting.  Her family was very encouraging, purchasing her work, weekend outings to galleries and museums and supportive words. She was surprised when her Aunt Molly secretly entered her very first oil painting at the Guadalupe County Fair and she won 2nd place. Overjoyed, she was hooked on painting, and winning.  She entered her paintings in every county fair she could get to and had a stack of ribbons inspiring her to continue.  

At every opportunity she painted and encouraged others to paint as well. An enterprising and passionate teenaged artist, she taught private lessons and classes to several local children and even her math teacher. Throughout her life she has continued to teach art, instructing both adults and children, including her own children and now her grandchildren in acrylic and oil painting.

Denice has worked in a variety of mediums; oil, acrylic, found objects art, tile mosaics, photography and painting photography. As the in-house artist of Centuries Antique Maps and Prints in Galveston Texas on ‘The Strand’, she learned and enjoyed watercolors. She also excelled in architectural type art. She sold many commissioned works of historical homes in the ‘Silk Stocking’ area and historical buildings along ‘The Strand’. While living on the Texas coast, she also painted and sold numerous seascapes to tourist and collectors alike.

Twenty years ago, Denice and her daughters, Tamara Arnold and Christine Moy came together to create Absolutely “Faux”bulous Decorative Arts in Wimberley Texas, specializing in faux finishes, from wildly vibrant baroque styles that would make Liberace raise an eyebrow to warm Rustic Tuscan vineyard finishes and everything in between. Through the decorative arts, Denice has made many friends in the community, working with local builders and decorators on color, texture and art to ensure clients end up with a finished product they love and continuity of home as a whole.  Hand-painted embellishments on faux finishes add personality and make it stand apart from the ordinary, and murals, including Trompe l’Oeil style can make a room feel larger and again more personal.​

Lately, Denice has gotten back to canvas work and approaches it with a sense of humor, not only in subject, but exaggerated perspective. Typically symbolic and always vivid color, her work is hung in private collections from Washington to Georgia and back to Texas.  Wimberley Valley Winery commissioned 12 abstract panels that are built into their tasting bar.  Denice also managed the design, color selection and faux finishes at both tasting room locations, Driftwood and Spring Texas.  Additional examples of Absolutely “Faux”bulous Decorative Arts can be seen at Creekhaven Inn, Blair House Inn, Wimberley Visitor Center, East Texas Best Burger ​and The Lazy Lavender.