We were lucky to catch up with Danielle Duer recently and have shared our conversation below.

Danielle, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

When I was a little girl, I would go on vacation with my family to the beach, I would swim, of course, and play with new friends, but one of my favorite things to do was to set up a little area, under an umbrella, with paint pens, beach balls and plastic sun visors to draw on them. I would have visitors come by and ask about them, and I would customize the items by painting their names and things that interested them. I remember asking so many questions, trying to get to know them and to get a feel for who they were.

Little did I know what those moments were teaching me. I learned how to safely connect with people by making artwork that reflected who they were, and I discovered a magic in providing a way for them to visually express what was special and meaningful to them.

I rarely share that story and I am not sure why, because today I am a professional Artist who for 20 years has specialized in creating custom artwork that visually narrates meaningful stories of families, individuals and commercial clients all over the world.

I often share a darker view of my childhood, where I discovered art and it’s value in helping me sort through difficult feelings. I have always been driven by my heart and by a passion to discover how to be a better, more authentic human, how to make sense of the struggles around me, how to walk through painful moments towards healing and then visually share what I am learning along the way.

As I became an adult, I remembered that art-making was not only good for untangling my head. I recalled the magic I learned on the beach, of connecting with others and how amazing it felt to give people a unique way to express what is special in their lives too.

I reflect on earlier symbolic paintings of strong, serious women decorated in moody, saturated color and bold patterns. They were my attempt at designing a stronger version of myself, someone to be taken seriously. I loved being able to see this symbol of who I was striving to be. It was so impactful for me. As I shared these pieces publicly, I quickly discovered how many other women wanted to see themselves this way too. I began taking commissions telling the stories of many women, as warriors, determined to move through adversity or trauma with an identity they were proud of and a purpose in life. I discovered that so many people want to see their narratives as art and own their stories and be reminded daily of who they are and what gives them purpose!

I think I have always tried to make every project meaningful. I never wanted a “career”. I just wanted to spend my life being some kind of encouragement to others..probably because of that magic….

Today, I take on many commissions throughout the year. I listen and read the narratives of my incredible clients. I hear stories of heartache, achievements, family vacations, failures, celebrations, brave girls, gentle warriors, survivors and memories of loved ones passed. Even through my murals, and commercial licensing projects, I love to focus on making symbolic images of becoming and growth.

My hope and heart is to continue to empower and encourage, to express important feelings, mine and yours, through my art and to remind people to celebrate how special this little life truly is.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Visual Artist focused on creating custom, narrative works of art meant to encourage and empower people. I want to support people in realizing their full potential and to remind them to celebrate what is most meaningful in their lives. I create moody, fine art paintings, saturated in color, bold patterns and dainty detail. My pieces are drenched in symbolism about strength and purpose. I create powerful, feminine imagery with sturdy flowers, bizarre animals and circus-like warriors. I want to create a balance of strange beauty with messages of hope and encouragement.

I love to create custom pieces that tell the stories of families, an individual, an organization or even a commercial client. To create a visual moment of gratitude where beloved stories are celebrated, people are cherished, and goals are uplifted is such a powerful reminder of what we value in life, in our work, our passions and our communities. And is my very favorite thing to do.

This year I plan to expand in how I can help people through art. I will be focusing on the broader message of being well by teaching a variety of art and wellness empowerment workshops. My website is www.danielleduer.com to sign up for my newsletter with more updates on that.

My work is divided neatly in several categories:
Fine Art Paintings,
Custom Love Story Illustrated Portraits, (families, friends, teams, etc.)
Pattern and Surface Design,
Mural Painting.
I love to create custom art for clients of all types in my signature style.
My work is all driven by the same messages of empowerment, strength, purpose and beauty and to serve as a reminder to love and celebrate life.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society can play a crucial role in supporting artists, who use their craft to express our deepest emotions and identities. Art is a powerful medium that captures history, preserves memories, and reflects our shared experiences long after we are gone. As emotional beings, our decisions are often driven by our feelings, making art an essential and safe outlet for expressing our inner lives. Recognizing the importance of artists, society should intentionally support, share, and uplift them, ensuring they can continue to create work that resonates with us all and enriches our lives. By doing so, we honor the profound impact that art has on making our existence more meaningful.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

As an artist who has worked alone for so long, I often wonder if non-creatives fully grasp the challenges artists face. It’s not just about continually creating something new, but also finding ways to sell it every month, photographing it, writing about it, adding it to a website, telling a story, and posting about it, all while coming up with new ideas. Generating fresh ideas for new works over and over again is incredibly challenging and mentally exhausting. Artists’ work is deeply emotional and based on feelings, making it difficult to predict how long a piece will take, how we will feel about it, or how we will interpret it. Yet, we must remain consistent, timely, and dependable professionals. Often working in solitude, we sit with our emotions, transforming them into art and striving to improve while staying true to what sells. All of this is driven by our dedication to making life more authentic and meaningful.

I love making art and connecting with people and am dedicated to making my patrons happy and have for many years. But it is very hard to be that creative every day. It is rare I can just sit down with paperwork and fulfill a checklist of chores and challenges… I have to invent so many new things every day. I think so many people think it is a dream job, not realizing it is very, very difficult to do all the time and in order to live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.danielleduer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielleduerart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danielleduerart

Image Credits

just me