Danielle Petti - painter and mixed media artist

Artist statement
I’m fascinated by the materiality of us as earthlings, and our similarity to other living and non-living bodies down to our very atoms. As I forage for rocks for my paints, I bring to mind the reality that these pieces of earth are part of a natural cycle, repurposing and reshaping as time goes on, and taking a pause onto my canvas or paper. The concept I intend to convey to the viewers is that, in the end, we are the mountains and rivers, the lines are blurred between us and the natural world. In an increasingly digital society, I believe this sense of being “grounded” is necessary.


Artist Bio
Danielle holds a BFA and began her career as a photographer, working in that field for over 10 years. Recently relocated to Waterloo after living abroad in Italy, she found a narrower focus and direction for her artwork. She forages for rocks in nature, grinds them down into a paint, and often uses handmade papers to depict concepts inspired by motherhood, human origins, and environmental issues. The process of making paint is integral to the overall meaning of her work as it draws much attention to the materiality of the medium. Danielle subscribes to a philosophy in art that invites makers to use what is around them; the earth as paint, the contents of the recycling bin as paper.

Danielle's Website