Daily Inspiration: Meet Denny Bales

Today we’d like to introduce you to Denny Bales.

Denny, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in a family that always encouraged creativity and hard work. I was studying studio art with a focus on painting at Point Loma Nazarene University when I was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma on my 22nd birthday. I put school on pause for a year to begin chemo and radiation treatments. During that time that I had energy to paint I was fortunate enough to study painting en Plein Aire under artist Daniel Pinkham. He taught me color, composition and painting techniques that made a framework for my artwork for years. Out of college I ended up getting my teaching credential and teaching art and design at Da Vinci Design Charter school for 5 years. During my time at de Vinci I never repeated the same project once being as these projects for the students were an expression and experimentation of my own.
During these years I was going to a lot of live music in the east LA scene and noticed that there were a ton of great bands and a great energy in the scene but there was little to no production of these shows. I noticed a need for visuals and became deeply involve with projection art using analog techniques of liquids, patterns and slide images. This endeavor became The Blindspot Project. I rented a warehouse in the Boyle Heights/Arts District area as a place to experiment with the art that turned into a venue hosting bands every weekend form 2014-2017. This project brought me to some memorable experiences from working with countless bands, lighting stages at Desert Daze Music Festival, hired by Gwen Stefani’s creative team for one of her music videos, and being showcased at Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive (BAMPFA) Analog Light Show Festival . At this time I joined a band playing surf music paying homage to the original surf music a la the ventures and the shadows of the late 50s/early60s in which we still play today. While being interested in concert production I ended up taking a side jib as a steel climber and rigger working at heights setting up stages for outdoor concerts at venues like the rose bowl and dodger stadium as well as taking on jobs in production art department working as a set decorator and scenic painter, and building experiential brand activations. Most of my art at the time was create in the moment and had to be experienced as a member of the audience as an immersive experience. As my art developed in the light projection medium I was being drawn to the combination of organic shapes of liquid light combine with geometric patterns made for an interesting combination. Ever evolving, I was getting interested in creating an art that was more permanent. I documented these compositions on wood creating images through burning on wood.geometric shapes over organic lines created by the natural curves of wood grain to make for an interesting and meditative experience. My experiences working in production were always enjoyable and offered the opportunity for many creative solutions but the idea that something would be built to be filmed and then torn down an hour later was wearing on me. That’s when I shifted my gears to dive into architecture, building and working with earth as a medium. I was looking for my art to be lived with and grow along with a person adding to life’s experiences. In 2015 I bought 2.5 acres of raw land in Yucca Valley. Working with Architect Duane Smith of Hundred Mile House, we developed an idea for a small retreat to escape LA and slow down. I built this house myself and with friends from the desert who were also building and fixing up their own homes. I treated this experience as an introduction to building permanent structures. I loved the challenges and creativity in buildin that I decided to stay in the field and start my own company to continue this venture for other people to elevate their outdoor spaces. The company Hi Canyon was born. Hi Canyon referring to the land in which the house I built sits and the ideas, education, and challenges that came with that process along the way. Through this venture I have had the opportunity to meet wonderful and creative clients and designers that are always pushing the boundaries of what is possible for each unique situation. I have worked closely with Aimee Kirby of Ferox Studio the past few years. Most of Hi canyon’s jobs have been in and Around the Los Angeles area and are now expanding to the Hi Desert

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
For many years living a life of an artist has been a struggle, living from one job to the next, bartending to make ends meet. Working on the property, living in an old motorhome and building a house while learning as I went was one of the most challenging things I have ever taken on. It challenged me emotionally, physically, and mentally. Often times wondering what I got myself into and if this project would break me, which it almost did. Dealing with challenges, the isolation of the desert can be a testing thing. I made some great friends that are so talented in the desert and just live a different pace of life being surrounded by nature

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I can expand on anything that I wrote in the earlier question if you’d like. What sets me apart from others may be that I am willing to dive into a project fearless and always be open to learning the process. Never have an ego about not knowing exactly what to do next, never afraid to ask questions and for advice from others. Respecting others and learning from them. I am mostly interested in learning. always learning keeps things fresh and exciting to me while also referring to history.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Right before finishing my house I pretty much was met with a breaking point. Things were a bit chaotic and I needed to make a shift. I began trusting my faith in a new way. It was obvious to me that the only way to move forward was to give everything up to Jesus Christ and trust Him to lead my steps. I dont regret things from the past before this switch because everything’s ive experienced, good and bad has shaped me into who I am today and brought me to where I am. Faith is the top of the list, but also the courage to trust the process an the skills I have learned along the way. The journey is the destination.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://hicanyon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hi.canyon/

Image Credits
Photo Cred. Nevin Pontius, Martin Vielma