Contemporary artists Denise Kilmer and Bradley Donaldson were creative companions for years before they took a leap of faith and opened their collective art studio and gallery, Fusion Fine Art, where their complementary abstracts and experimental resin paintings hang. Since opening last year, the gallery has become a core part of Fountain Hills’ developing art scene, providing a community-centric space for neighboring artists and local art enthusiasts to gather.

We recently caught up with the dynamic duo to learn more about their latest creative endeavors.

Q&A With Denise Kilmer & Bradley Donaldson, Owners of Fusion Fine Art

Tell us the story of opening your gallery.

DK: Our story is simple. We have shown art together for the past several years in Scottsdale and McKinney, Texas. It was a natural process to open a gallery and studio in Fountain Hills. We decided to open Fusion because we saw a need for contemporary art in this inspiring environment.

BD: Denise and I were regularly traveling between Texas and Arizona, and we decided to settle down in one location. Having lived in Scottsdale for many years but loving the community out in Fountain Hills, we decided it would be a great place to make, show and sell art.

What has it been like working together?

BD: Normally we take turns working in the gallery, which means we do not always paint or work together. When we do an event together or both work in the gallery, we are like yin and yang. She senses what I am doing and where I might be going with a collector. And I try to do the same for her. Our days are spent planning our life around making sure the gallery can reach its maximum potential. Sometimes we must remind ourselves that even though it is a business, we must make it fun. We burn incense, play loud music and sometimes just dance around the gallery.

DK: Working with Bradley is so easy. He calms me when I’m feeling overwhelmed with life, which makes the art flow much easier. He inspires me to be a better artist every day.

What are you currently working on?

DK: I love working in large formats. I stretch most of my canvases myself. Working on large canvases gives me the freedom to express who I am and what feels right to me. I am currently working on a 4-by-6-foot abstract piece. I am inspired by the desert with all its splendor and colors, and it shows in the work.

BD: I am working on a commission for one of my collectors. I make these interesting “color sticks” using glass, tile, stones and resin in just about every color possible. People use them to add a splash of color to their homes, especially if they are limited with wall space. Typically, my work with resin is completely out of the box. I created a technique a few years ago I call “layering.” It’s a secret process where I layer shapes over one another using a micro-pouring technique. It’s quite intriguing, and my collectors seem to love them.

Do you have any upcoming events planned?

DK: First Fridays in Fountain Hills will be filled with art, live music, dancing and wine. When people catch on, Fountain Hills will be an art destination, and Fusion Fine Art will be the place to be. Bradley and I named our gallery Fusion because we have fused our lives and our art, balanced as one. Collectively, we are a great team in a space that affords us the freedom to create. We are part of the Fountain Hills Art League and have done several shows with other talented artists in the community. We will continue to show new pieces and stand out in the arts here at Fusion Fine Art.

Describe your artistic process.

BD: I have a very specialized studio and workspace because of the materials I use. Working with resins or even encaustic waxes requires a flat surface and an area that is well-ventilated. After I make a wood panel, I usually use my instincts to start a new painting. I have a general idea of what I want to do, but in the end, I just let myself go with the flow of the colors and shapes. Working with resin is new every single day.

DK: I start with one or two very large and several medium canvases. I place the canvases flat on the floor so the paint doesn’t drip where I don’t want it to. I control the flow of the paint, and painting on the floor helps me to see the piece much clearer. Making art is all about color, shape, line and balance. I tend to make a series of pieces. And the outcome is showing the finished paintings on the big white walls at Fusion Fine Art. It usually takes weeks before the new paintings are completed.

What does your art say about you?

DK: My paintings are a part of the way I grew up. I see the desert and the colors in the sunsets and sunrise. My entire body of work is a relationship of color and emotion. I find myself engaged in the colors on the blank canvas. I am inspired by the blues of the sky with magenta mountains. The golden sunsets with a backdrop of the towering saguaro cactus. I am fueled by the Arizona desert. I hope my abstract pieces reflect me.

BD: I think my art is all about not being afraid to make art. I have done many forms of art and fallen in love with each one. My favorite is working with resins because I have so many freedoms in how to use it. I want to be bold, expressive and unafraid to lay something down that people will appreciate. I have sold over 800 paintings now.

Who is your favorite artist and why?

BD: Denise has always been my favorite artist. Her work is unique and very distinctive and if you see one of her paintings, you know it is one of hers. No one paints the way she does. I was not classically trained as an artist and spent limited time studying the masters. I paint by instinct and have always loved abstract work. If I had to pick a master, I would say Jackson Pollock. He brought something new and turned the art world upside down by using simple techniques and materials to paint something the world had never seen.

DK: It is hard for me to pick a favorite artist. I have loved many different artists at different times in my life. It’s almost like asking ‘What is your favorite color?’ But right now, my favorite artist is Helen Frankenthaler. Another one of my favorite artists is Leo Posillico. His use of color is extraordinary. The depth of the image is mesmerizing. He also painted with oils.

What inspires you the most?

BD: Having a partner in Denise is my inspiration. She is a truly talented artist who has perfected her style. She is very consistent and I tend to be all over the map. She encourages me daily to find that spark that will become an artistic masterpiece. She is my biggest fan and has helped me to just create what I want and not what others expect of me.

DK: I am inspired by learning a new technique within my art. A piece of music will inspire me. The sound of nature or looking at the mountains with clouds covering them at the top. The desert fuels me and keeps me searching for new and creative ideas. The warm embrace of Bradley is my biggest inspiration.

What’s next on the horizon?

BD: We will do more shows and events this year to supplement the gallery hours. We will probably take some time off this summer to travel and see art. We love visiting the great art cities around America, but we have Europe on our minds too. We always get inspired when visiting galleries and museums. Sometimes we look at a painting in awe and Denise has an expression I love, ‘Would you look at that! It is just paint!!’ People are so darn creative.

DK: We would like to have Fusion Fine Art as a haven for other artists too. Performers, art classes, yoga and supplementing the gallery with people who think creatively. We have a way of hanging a show. Every month is different. New art is always being hung on our walls.

For more, go to fusionfineart.net.