i'm excited to share that i am participating in a celebration of creativity to benefit the parish house, a new performance space in newton, ma. this fundraising event will feature music by boston blackthorne and art featured by danene elise! i am launching a new series at called "a beautiful mess" which is about the endless conversations i have with myself before, during and after i start a canvas. the conversations are often about what i'm creating and where to begin, or why

hello my friends. i hope you're enjoying your weekend and finding a little time to relax and enjoy some time with your family and friends. i have a couple canvases that are in the works, and sometimes they stop talking to me. today i made a really simple decision....i went into my studio, turned on some (loud) music and started an entirely new project! as i had hoped, this was all the inspiration i needed to shift my energy. soon the new and the the existing canvases started

i am excited to share that i have been published i the july/august edition of somerset studio! my article entitled "heavy handed textures" features three canvases from my majestic series and techniques i use to create art on canvas using textures, layers and vibrant colors. i love to create and it brings me immense joy when i see the happiness in a new customer's eyes. i like to see their fingers twitch because i know their next question for me is "is it okay if i touch the c

my experience at jamaica plain open studios last month was fabulous! i had the opportunity to meet loads of people, answer questions about my process and my interests, and sell original pieces from my majestic series. thank you to my friends at focus real estate for sponsoring jamaica plain open studios and for inviting me to display my art for the month of september!! i had a great experience and i appreciate the support of the community and my customers - thank you!!! xox

i am participating in my first jamaica plain open studios on september 23 and 24 at focus real estate located on 34 south street. i am incredibly grateful to focus for sponsoring jpos and hosting my art for the month. and i am excited to participate in jpos with so many amazing artists. i look forward to the opportunity to share my art and inspiration! i invite you to visit me an my friends in the majestic series this weekend! #giraffe #daneneelise #daneneelisegrillo #dane

i am participating in my first jamaica plain open studios on september 23 and 24 at focus real estate located on 34 south street. i am incredibly grateful to focus for sponsoring jpos and hosting my art for the month. and i am excited to participate in jpos with so many amazing artists. i look forward to the opportunity to share my art and inspiration! i invite you to visit me an my friends in the majestic series this weekend! #giraffe #daneneelise #daneneelisegrillo #dane

i am participating in my first jamaica plain open studios on september 23 and 24 at focus real estate located on 34 south street. i am incredibly grateful to focus for sponsoring jpos and hosting my art for the month. and i am excited to participate in jpos with so many amazing artists. i look forward to the opportunity to share my art and inspiration! i invite you to visit me an my friends in the majestic series this weekend! #giraffe #daneneelise #daneneelisegrillo #dane

i have a million and one canvases already started. there may be a pile in a container beneath my workspace. and there may also be a pile on the bed in the spare bedroom. and there may be a few scattered throughout my studio. but, in the interest of listening to my inspiration and feeding the need to go BIG, i started two more! sometimes inspiration is found in beginning something new. sometimes inspiration is found by pushing through mental blocks and barriers. sometime

i started this giraffe a few months back - in March i believe. i started two giraffe canvases that day - one dark grey and the other off-white. the dark grey has given me a lot of difficulty. i completed the off-white canvas in april. but i have not been able to get this one to talk to me. the pictures below show a few of the transformations that this canvas has traversed as i attempt to bring it to life. and there were others along the way that i didn't capture because

now that i am inspired to find a BIG home for my intense creativity, i find i am inspired to let go of the past by purging old stash so that new ideas and possibilities can be nurtured. i have definitely set aside a few items over the years that i intended to repurpose, such as cigar boxes - wooden and cardboard and decorated or otherwise. i've always liked boxes in general so i may have saved a couple iPhone boxes as well. and then there was the metal period where i thoug

i had the most wonderful conversation at work this past week. a friend stopped at my desk to chat about a work project. i have this piece of elephant art on display at my desk. my friend looked at the elephant canvas and asked, "when are you going to make something BIG for me??" she continued and said, "the canvas is too small. your art has too much intensity to be trapped in such a small space. i am waiting for you to make something BIG!!" how cool is this? i reflect on the

i am excited to share that i have completed three custom canvases in the last month! with each custom canvas i learn more about myself and my art. i am more relaxed and open in how i create and i think this is visible in the finished art. i cannot share names, of course, but i truly appreciate the invitation to create custom art for you. thank you so much for inviting me into your world!! xoxo #customdesign #customart #bostonartist #bostonartist #localartist #interiordesign #

you might want to read this before heading out for dinner with friends this weekend! the #majestic series continues to evolve. there are now 2 elephants, 2 giraffes and a rhino has recently appeared on the landscape.... my experience with elephants, giraffes and rhinos has been limited to zoo visits and Facebook posts i might read as i scroll through the newsfeed. through my work on the #majestic series, my knowledge about each species grows. by the time you finish reading th

i was invited to donate my elephant art to the Global Conservation Force. they are dedicated to the protection of elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes in their habitats through direct action, education and awareness. on a personal level, i am extremely flattered that a representative from GCF contacted me in their search for unique items that will aide in their fund raising efforts. but it is heartbreaking that the GCF exists at all. their website explains that there is c

did you catch this? i was invited to donate my elephant art to the Global Conservation Force. they are dedicated to the protection of elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes in their habitats through direct action, education and awareness. on a personal level, i am extremely flattered that a representative from GCF contacted me in their search for unique items that will aide in their fund raising efforts. but it is heartbreaking that the GCF exists at all. their website expl

i was invited to donate my elephant art to the Global Conservation Force. they are dedicated to the protection of elephants, rhinoceroses and giraffes in their habitats through direct action, education and awareness. on a personal level, i am extremely flattered that a representative from GCF contacted me in their search for unique items that will aide in their fund raising efforts. but it is heartbreaking that the GCF exists at all. their website explains that there is c

i'm always looking for new ways to impress my friends! the #majestic series continues to evolve. there are now 2 elephants, 2 giraffes and a rhino has recently appeared on the landscape.... my experience with elephants, giraffes and rhinos has been limited to zoo visits and Facebook posts i might read as i scroll through the newsfeed. through my work on the #majestic series, my knowledge about each species grows. by the time you finish reading this short blog, you will have r

the #majestic series continues to evolve. there are now 2 elephants, 2 giraffes and a rhino has recently appeared on the landscape.... my experience with elephants, giraffes and rhinos has been limited to zoo visits and Facebook posts i might read as i scroll through the newsfeed. through my work on the #majestic series, my knowledge about each species grows. by the time you finish reading this short blog, you will have read more than 6 facts about rhinos. i can't promise you

while looking across a vast tundra of brown shag carpet, i spotted the unbleached titanium long neck giraffe canvas propped up against a window. ivory black was nearby. the two were snacking on the leaves atop an acacia tree. there have been some changes since our last visit. it appears that their backgrounds have been updated with drippy splashes of yellow, green and orange. alcohol ink is randomly spattered about. turquoise numbers now appear in the vista. stamped images

our majestic series friends were recently spotted in a nearby studio..... while looking across a vast tundra of brown shag carpet, i spotted the unbleached titanium long neck giraffe canvas propped up against a window. ivory black was nearby. the two were snacking on the leaves atop an acacia tree. there have been some changes since our last visit. it appears that their backgrounds have been updated with drippy splashes of yellow, green and orange. alcohol ink is randomly