Meet Danielle Crouse | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Danielle Crouse and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Danielle, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art kept me out of trouble. I had potential for trouble, but stuck with art. My brother is an idol of mine and a fantastic artist. Mom really enjoys our art, which makes me happy. I had spent most of high school in the art room having been excused from classes because I was sleeping through them and teachers were usually redirecting my assignments to projects that used my creative ability to keep me engaged. I’m grateful for them. College showed me how art is a part of everything: attention, communication, rest, education. When I started focusing on color, the only other thing that felt as fulfilling was to be in nature. Combining the two simplified my life goals beautifully. I grew up with a lot of resistance to what most of my peers were up to and where my mind went when I created was where I wanted to be. Calm, in control, able to safely experiment and design something emotionally rewarding with enough challenge to feel growth. Finding a way to be paid for sharing this experience while encouraging others to engage their imagination within reality is akin to searching for rainbows. There’s a scientific understanding of it’s affect, historic documentation of it’s importance, a fundamental acknowledgement started in childhood and an everlasting magic that captures people when they come across art that speaks to them. I might get looked at sideways for pursuing a career in art, but no one has ever told me that I’m in the wrong for doing so. It brings out the rainbow in me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
looking through a microscope at a snail’s shell lets the observer see that a monotonous cast created by a very simple being holds the entire spectrum of light and sparkles so loudly that they almost hear the magic. This being’s home was also created with such precision that it will outlast your life and mine. What is created of necessity is phenomenal. Human expression is a necessity. Eons of artistic development can be studied and contemplated through each person’s frame of reference creating a spectrum of understanding as colorful and perfect as that snail’s shell. So simple and so desirable for life’s comfort whether contemplated or not. I got to contemplate such a shell after college at an Art Institute while drawing for a scientist studying snails at Carnegie Museum. Seeing that rainbow after learning the psychology of color saturated my entire life with magic. Knowing that wars have been fought over the collection of a culture’s creations set the stage of potential. Understanding that peace can be reached through meditating on a centuries old two dimensional visual holds the tone of my goal. Witnessing generation after generation within my lifetime through the art of videography documenting the unification the art of music achieves amplifies my encouragement in developing a form of art that sings to my soul and reaches others. My intention has been a steady process requiring strategy and faith continuously circled back to while learning how to exist in this society. How do we each learn to listen to our hearts and thrive? I create rainbows that show others the magic in everyday life. I capture a moment the sun shimmer’s over fur and water with a composition that instills a calmness. I reflect an expression of love within a portrait that eases the emotions of a lost dear one. I stir up joy with a paint brush as I mix colors and orientate the viewer’s focus to something beautiful. I step into my vulnerability in sharing what moves me to create and repeatedly invite others to see my heart so that they may see how I have learned to thrive. I welcome sharing my process so that others may learn a way to express themselves. One of the incredible things about art is that all of the work is offered up to your experience. It is a gift. Having my gift be treasured is prismatic in that it provides an occupiable structure that enables me to refract some brilliance of our world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Nederland, Colorado is magical. The environment here is preserved by the elements that make it hard to develop. The history is enamoring in that it takes such perseverance to withstand those elements that a gritty tenacity forms. An appreciation for fleeting moments and monumental strides sums up the weathering accomplishments of this town’s existence. During summer is an amazing time to visit and experience the National Forest surrounding Ned. The town itself has lovely little trails to stroll along Boulder Creek and Barker Reservoir as well as more adventurous hikes further up the nearby Hessie and Fourth of July Trails. The Mining Museum showcases the historic audacity of the early settlers while Eldora Village has managed to secure their charming lifestyle, both of which are special spots to visit. The variety of food offered in walkable distance is delightful as well as the art being created throughout. June 22 is the second annual Nederday of Art that will have a mural walk map sharing an array of locations featuring artists that are inspired and nurtured by this beautiful place. It doesn’t take much for me to feel filled and so hanging out here in town while working hard has been sustainable for now. A grand adventure isn’t far away, though, with the art scene in Boulder and Denver or week long camping in the surrounding wilderness and a magical ride is only a ticket away at the Carousel of Happiness.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family has always supported creativity. All of them. Mom identifies as being on the spectrum and isn’t very cuddly. Dad died when I was really little. Cartoons were a go to for learning while being social wasn’t always an option. Drawing favorite characters, learning to read, and feeling the adventure of reaching people beyond my conversation skills gave me a confidence that my family nurtured. Any connection developed through art with someone created a familial bond for me. Where things not being talked about to build relatable skills felt overwhelming, the registerable expression reflected from creativity was a keystone. Everyone that has ever encouraged my work I have been able to create my life from. Being requested of as an artist and supported in self expression are both incredible and empowering. Both are extremely daunting, as well. The intimacy brought out through the financial acceptance from others solidifies existence for me within a world that routinely idolizes and then dismisses millions of whimsies. Each individual that sees my work, work that is now beyond myself as I learn how to support other artists, is a savior in my emotional expression of life. And to the subject matter of most of my personal work of animal portraits I can only fully express my gratitude in the most intricate rainbow effects each day of practice hones.

Website: https://artworkbydmc.com

Instagram: artworkbycrouse

Facebook: dmc artwork

Other: Danielle M. Crouse manages Kaleidoscope Fine Arts Gallery
20 Lakeview Drive
Nederland, CO 80466
303-949-3590
11-5 Thurs thru Mon
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kaleidoscope-finearts.com