We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Danielle Librera. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Danielle below.

Danielle, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

I worked in the culinary field for many years – 18 years as a Pastry Chef in fact. I loved everything about it. The energy of it all fueled me, but life has a strange way of showing you where you should be, and how you should ride it out. I was running my own business (Bakery) in 2008 when the economy took an incredible decline. I felt like overnight the majority of my customers were gone. I was struggling to pay my businesses rent and was forced to close my storefront and move my business into a coffee shop. Pretty much simultaneously my father became very ill with cancer, and my husband lost his job. We lived in Phoenix at this time; and with this economic downturn the housing market was really, horridly, unpleasant. Of course we had our home on the market and couldn’t sell it. I really felt like I was sinking deeper into a whole where I would never see the light of day again. One day morning I was sitting quietly by myself and I thought – You just have to pick yourself up and go for it. There is no harm in trying.

So I revised my resume and sent a ton of them out. (All in the Seattle area as my husband and I believed it was the right place for a refresh). within 2-3 weeks I had a job offer. I moved There first, my husband came a couple months later. We struggled in the beginning, but we did it. It took a few years, but we rebuilt ourselves. I worked in a number of great restaurants out here. I was really proud of my career, although I started to wonder…is this it? Can I do more?

Well into my 40’s I looked into going back to school. I wanted it for myself, I wanted to do it because if I could restart like I did previously thought I can possibly do anything. My strategy was to study something I loved and I know I will succeed. I applied to the University of Washington and two years later I was graduating with a BA in Art History. I loved every everything I learned about Art…theories, techniques, cultural influences, sociological relevances, and aesthetics. And I graduated with honors. I shocked myself with that. Through acquaintances at the UW I met my boss who offered my a position as Gallery Assistant. I have since been promoted to Assistant Curator. As much as I loved all thing about being a pastry chef and being in the culinary field, I love working in a gallery more…and I genuinely never thought that as a possibility in life.

Danielle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

There are technically two parts to my career and discipline. As an artist (I am partial to watercolors andI took an intensive class several years ago in watercolor). I deeply enjoy my work. For me, creating / painting is like going to church. I shut out everything else from the outside world and paint. In many ways it is meditative for me. There are no thoughts outside of what is happening infant of me at that moment. As for my work in the Galley as an Assistant Curator I find that listening to your artists is key. Understanding their creations and finding the balance between their desires along with how to present their work to the public is a major key. I am really proud of my ability to listen, to be patient with those I work with, because it builds trust. So when I turn off the gallery side of myself and go back to my personal artistic process I use my own advice to push me along: stay focuses, listen to instincts, and trust myself in creating. It will not lie, trying to do both of these parts of my life it not easy. So I try really hard to manage my time. Days, or evening set aside for painting, away from my Gallery work. Keeping them as two separate entities helps me not get lost or loose track of where I need to be to keep a balance in all of it. Sometime others ask me how I manage it all. The only answer I can come up with is all those years I spent as a pastry chef, and keeping track of several items at a time, constantly multitasking. That skill set has transeerd over for me.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Personally the most rewarding thing about being an artist and working creatively is when others look at your work and ask you about it. They look at it with an open mind and ask about the process and want to know where you and your art are coming from. As you begin explain it all to them you notice they start to look at your art with fresh eyes and they you know they get it, they are seeing it from your perspective. It always makes my heart skip a beat, because for just a moment you can see and feel that someone has connected with your work. and it is so gratifying. It’s like all those cookies and cakes I baked over the years and watching someone bite into them and smile when they tasted them.It is exactly like that.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

I do not know why I never really new this previously, but the art world is incredibly supportive. And that in itself is an amazing resource. When you mention you are short on paper or supplies, other artists will always let you know where the deals are, or lend you what they have extra of. When you tell other artists about an exhibition or an opening, they show up. When another artist hears you are struggling in your creative process they always try to give advice and feedback. When those critiques are made, they are not meant to be vicious, but they are there to build you into doing / being better. For so long I painted, and drew and kept it all to myself out of fear of that other would tell me it was crappy. Contrarily, I believe if I had the courage and realized how open and supportive this community is I would be further along in my creative process. I love meeting other artists as we all share a bond that we know other might never understand. There is so much care within this supportive community it is one of the most beautiful things I have encountered in my life.  

Contact Info:

• Website: www.daniellelibrera.com
• Instagram: www.daniellelibrera.com or culinary vagabond
• Facebook: Danielle Librera
• Linkedin: Danielle Librera