Ted Phillip Denton has found considerable success as an artist in Palm Springs.

Denton, who has a background in architecture, designs with paint, metal sculpture and ceramic on canvas.

All of the work featured in the Ted Phillip Denton Gallery is either Denton's work or photographs and jewelry made by his wife, Joy Landau.

After just two years in the area, Denton has commissioned art pieces in front of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and TRIO Restaurant.

“I have to admit that a lot of our success is being here in the Back Street Art District,” Denton said. “We're surrounded by a lot of high quality galleries.”

The Palm Springs Sun recently talked with Denton about the business of creating art.

Question: What makes your gallery different from the other galleries in Palm Springs?

Denton: First it's just our work we have here. And I work in so many different media we really don't have room for other artists.

Tell me about the process of developing your art.

My key thing, I think, is simplicity. I'm not inspired by masters like Picasso. I'm more inspired by architecture. I'll see a building and be inspired — especially mid-century modern architecture.

Why did you decide to come to Palm Springs?

I studied architecture at Arizona State University in Tempe. We used to come here on field trips.

Then I started to come to Palm Springs. It's been an excellent market for me, especially in metal sculpture.

Have you seen much of an impact on business with the economic downturn?

We haven't seen any of it. People come in all the time and ask “What's the recession like?” Art's a different thing.