Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Simone.
Hi Danielle, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story as an artist started when my father taught me to draw Charlie Brown at two years of age. He was an artist and musician by hobby and consistently encouraged me as an artist to work hard for what I love. My mother also embraced my creativity throughout my childhood by encouraging me to try new things with various types of materials: from stained glass windows to fiber arts, to painting and even filmmaking, where she played a role in one of my many home movies “soap operas” I made when I was ten years old. There was always a sense of comedic relief found within my family’s attitude towards my art-making, and likely that was why I was most comfortable pursuing it as a career. Without the positive influence of both parents’ perspectives of art as both a hobby and career, I would not be where I am today.
One turning point was after my father passed away abruptly when I was 18, and I started to lose sight of my art career. I became quite lost for a while but was eventually very lucky to be taken under the wing of two mentors (who I call my second set of parents) who helped me realize that there was much more to life. My mentors not only helped me learn how to work hard to fulfill my potential as an artist, but they also opened me up to different cultures through volunteering in arts education, and it forever shaped my way of thinking and art-making.
Throughout my college career, I worked as a nonprofit arts education volunteer and separately as a photographer, and I relay my current successes to learning first how to see the world through the lens of helping others, both through encouraging art-making in the community and by helping people feel comfortable in front of a camera.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Becoming a professional artist to any degree is never a smooth road, but I always think of this quote from one of my favorite painters, Alice Neel, as helping shape my path as an artist: “If you’re tenacious and interested, you can accomplish anything you want to accomplish in this world.”
The struggles I encountered were sometimes deep and tragic, but they always somehow translated cathartically and meditatively in my work, so I thank the struggles as much as I thank the joy that has come into my life.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a multi-media artist, I specialize in painting, illustration and photography. In painting and drawing, creating a whimsical, lighthearted world that presents hints of obscurity is a theme within my life’s body of work. In photography, my goal is to capture the subject in the most honest, documentary way while including the nature of certainty and grounding amongst the same whimsy I try to instill in my fine artwork.
In my illustration career, I’m more known for my light-hearted pen and ink character drawings, some of which were featured in videos for host Miley Cyrus at the MTV Music Awards. In my painting career, I continue to bring in elements of playfulness by representing characters in a certain setting or situation that encourages the viewer to question social norms or find deeper meanings. One of my painting series titled “Millennianimals” pictures animal figures embracing the shallow nature that the role of social media plays in Millennials’ lives.
As of the past year, I have started painting on clothing through my brand rosesonmy. It has been such a joy to move to smaller, more approachable and wearable pieces that are put to practical use. I mostly paint on pre-loved materials to give a piece a new life.
As a photographer, I’m most well-known for editorial and documentary-style photography. I have photographed everything from fashion, music videos, public events to shooting well over 500 weddings around the globe, and I am lucky to have my work be published worldwide. Most notably in my career, I have been given opportunities to work with John Legend and Sara Bareilles as a behind-the-scenes music video documentary photographer and have been featured in Vogue for my editorial wedding photography.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
One of my favorite ways to work with people is to feature them as subjects in paintings who are active participants in the odd worlds I create. Involving people in this manner allows me to use all of my skills as an artist, whereas the process of photographing, illustrating and painting are all utilized from start to finish in a piece. I am currently working on a series of abstract works that will be on display in my solo show at the end of 2023 in LA. I encourage people to reach out in whatever means they’d like to, and if we have good energy and similar ideas for a project, who knows what magic can happen.
One of the most humbling yet essential ways people can support a living artist is by sharing their work via word of mouth, online, or inviting to shows in person.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bio.site/daniellesimone
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/dnellls
Image Credits
All photographs were taken by Danielle Simone & Co.
