In Memory of Dotty Billiu

(Self-Portrait 2001)
Dorothy Billiu-Hensche
1926-2002

My Philosophy

I believe in unity with diversity.

I believe that the long and large world of Art is a diversified field. My choice has been to follow the path of the realistic painter. I have been fortunate to work with a master, one on one and learned the things necessary for pursuing a fine end. From the first, I was taught that focus and discipline were fundamental qualities for reaching a goal. Even with talent, one needs good instruction, a clear understanding of where one is in art history, something to say, and a passion to say it. I see the roll of a painter as a "communicator" of his day, having something of worth to say. The communication should be uplifting, enlightening, or at least entertaining to viewer and painter. Sight is the universal language of humanity. All people who see, should easily understand what they see in a painting. The message will be visible to the viewer if the surface has been executed with consummate skill.

A fine painting has:

1. An arranged interesting surface
2. A definable light key revealing beautiful color
3. An underlying message that should be felt and not necessarily seen.

Dorothy Billiu-Hensche,
April 16, 2001

Commentary

When I first learned of Henry Hensche, I came to Gray, Louisiana to meet him. I soon realized that it was Dotty Billiu that brought him to Louisiana. To some, that may not sound very important, but to me, it was everything. Henry Hensche forever changed the way I look at art and that only comes from learning where you were, where you are at now, and knowing where you are going in the art world. I am sure that I can speak for all who have spent many days and evenings at Studio One in Gray, that Dotty Billiu has enriched all of our lives by her understanding of the art world and has shared her talent and beliefs with us all. Here's to you Dotty for making the Louisiana Art community a better place and having the foresight to grab hold of it. May God bless and keep you. We will love you and cherish our memories with you always.

Albert Guidry
Webmaster
Painter/Student/Friend

My teacher and Mentor:

Who was Dotty Billiu Hensche ?

Dotty was my art teacher since 1981. Dotty's late husband Henry Hensche he died in 1992, a master painter. This was all Dotty had left in life, no family to call her own they all died off. We, her students and friends were her only family left to her, and she had many. I started painting with Dotty around 1981, we also traveled very well together to museums and Art shows, it was enjoyment to both of us, we also did a few Flee Markets, that too was a good thing. Pray that I start painting again, haven't put a knife in my hands in a year. I will miss her very much, Dotty had such a mind to read and remember it all, I would covet that. She had a wonderful since of humor, loved having receptions, she'd enjoy them in her own quiet way, a very good friend in all ways, when you'd cry she'd cry with you, Yes I will miss her dearly, she was that angel that walked into my life for a season. Hope you enjoy these pages my friend Al Guidry labored to put together for everyone's pleasure, for this is part of me too. The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

Dot Duplantis
Painter/Student/Friend

The Last Self-Portrait July 2002

A Fine Artist

Four years ago I discovered Studio One, Fine Art Oasis created and nourished by Dotty Billiu Hensche. I immediately decided to study painting at her Studio because I saw several portraits that were skillfully done and they just radiated with poetic energy. Dotty loved and understood people so well. She had a very deep insight into humanity. She also possessed great vision and taste in fine art. She developed wonderful skills by studying with the best artists of our times, one of them being Henry Hensche. Her works reflected this.

Great Teacher

I was always amazed by her grace and sensitivity when she communicated with people. Dorothy had the unique ability to find the most important and inspirational words for any student in any situation. Her beautiful giving heart, and honest and pure personality glowed. She taught the Art of Seeing and Painting, colorvisualism, the legacy passed on to her by Henry Hensche, with devotion and love.

Dotty brought the best artists into her studio for frequent workshops to reinforce and widen the horizons of our knowledge about color, composition, portrait and figure. She tried to develop us as whole artists-people, which meant working not only on our painting and drawing skills but also on philosophical thinking, discipline, creativity, and self-confidence.

I’ve never met Henry Hensche, but I felt like I did because Dotty carried his ideas in her mind and heart. From now on I will always try to reflect the harmonious light keys of nature in my paintings. Dotty Billiu Hensche planted and nourished these seeds into the ground of my soul.
I speak from my heart and the heart of every student of the STUDIO ONE. I know it, because over these wonderful years spent together painting, learning, feeling each others joy or pain, going through the impossible to describe in words the loss of our dearest Dotty, we became ONE. We shall miss her very much. She will stay with us forever for her lessons and words will keep floating up from the depths of our memories when we paint, or look at a beautiful painting, or enjoy the nature, or travel the world. She loved life, experienced it to the fullest, but also lived deeply realizing the rhythm, harmony…and the love in it. Just like every masterpiece has to be created according to the principles of composition, she composed her life. This beautiful deep optimistic insight on every part of life’s joys Dotty shared with us. And we shall stay ONE Studio ONE.

My favorite lesson by Dotty is: “Dream, never stop dreaming. And go for your dreams.”

Julia Gravois
Painter/Student/Friend

Memories of Dotty

I started taking lessons with Dotty in 1990. The very first time I put a charcoal in my hand and listened to her instructions while she sat for us, I walked away with a crude likeness, but a definite likeness. I was so thrilled! I still have that drawing. From that point on she made me realize that I was capable of doing something that I had only admired in others until then. She was an encouraging, caring, and a persistent teacher of excellence. Her knowledge of fine art was an inspiration for us to learn more. As a person, she was spiritual, sympathetic, understanding, and patient. I am grateful that God blessed my life with having her as my teacher in art, my mentor, but most of all my friend. I am a better person having known her. After all, isn't that the purpose of life. She definitely fullfilled her purpose. Thank you Dotty! You will live on in my art and me.

Janet Burton
Houma, LA

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