Carter Denos: Finding a Voice Through Art

Visual artist Carter Denos’ work takes on the daunting task of embodying multiple emotions in a single painting. In his winning design for SLUG’s most recent t-shirt competition (available for pre-order through April 17), Denos’ angular faces explore the vastness of human emotion. Each face explores a different realm of sensation such as contempt, fear, sorrow, and joy. Each makes you lean in a little closer, craving to know the meaning behind the expression. 

Denos’ design is a cluster of variously-sized heads, all with a solemn or perturbed expression on their face. The angular head motifs that appear in the t-shirt design are a concept that Denos has been playing with almost his whole life. At five years old, Denos drew human faces on animal bodies. “I remember drawing a slightly terrifying shark with a human face on it,” he says. “My parents thought it looked cool and creative, which gave me the confidence to continue making art.” His parent’s initial reaction was the stepping stone to fully embracing who he could be as an artist. 

“Being open-minded about what your art is and what it could become is an idea that keeps me inspired.”

Over time, Denos ditched the animal body and started to develop pieces that reflected his mental state. These faces form a visual journal, expressing his feelings at the time. “Each head represents a different emotion,” Denos says, “In every project I create, there’s always a main character that’s a direct depiction of my emotional state.”

Denos found a voice of his own through art’s guidance. Denos says he was always insecure about his writing abilities as a young kid. Shortly after discovering his gift for drawing, Denos felt like he was able to properly articulate his feelings without writing a single word. Denos was obsessed with Claude Monet during those years and remembers being enthralled with his lush and luminous painting The Japanese Footbridge. Although Denos still admires Monet’s work, he’s currently inspired by the multi-media artist Takashi Murakami. “[Marakami’s] very open to different mediums. I really appreciate that,” Denos says. “Being open-minded about what your art is and what it could become is an idea that keeps me inspired.” This influence has moved Denos to consider experimenting with different mediums going forward.

Denos continues to depict his own emotions as well as those of his ancestors. He recently painted angular heads (similar to the SLUG design) that represent the pain and hardship his great-grandparents had gone through being immigrants in the United States. It was a chance for Denos to explore other voices other than his own and to create a connection with his roots. 

“In every project I create, there’s always a main character that’s a direct depiction of my emotional state.”

When creating, Denos starts with a prayer to center himself and then puts on his painting playlist, which includes artists such as Jimmy Woo and Chromatics. “I hardly have something in mind when I paint. I like to go with the flow and let the art take me where it’s going to take me,” Denos says. He used to start a new project with an expectation in his head about what the piece should look like. Over time, Denos became gentler on himself and says he’s “detached any preconceived idea of what the art should and shouldn’t be” and just paints “whatever feels good.” This ability to erase any prejudgment opens room for Denos to be authentic and allows new ideas to flow freely and fruitfully.

Denos’s resistance to the pressures of conformity makes his design complement part of SLUG Magazine’s mission, to amplify alternative art. You can see more of Carter Denos’ work and keep up with his latest projects on his Instagram page, @soupsox. Pre-order Denos’ t-shirt at SLUGMag.bigcartel.com through April 17.

Read about prior winners in SLUG Mag’s t-shirt design contest:
Dave Styer: Graphic Design by Trade
Sage Venna’s Journey in Creating