Daniella Willett-Rabin

Artist Statement:

Painting is my passion and joy, and for me, it is a celebration of life.

My work is characterized by a colorful palette and decorative pattern work. I strive to infuse each piece with movement, imagination, whimsy, and artistry.

I draw inspiration from the rhythms of music, the grace and movement of dance, the beauty of nature, and the structure and creativity found in architecture. These elements take center stage in my imagination, and I enjoy rendering them using oil paint on canvas. I hope for the viewer to experience the same sense of wonder and celebration of life through my artwork.

Bio:

Daniella Willett-Rabin was born in Madison, Wisconsin. During her formative years, she had the opportunity to live in both Italy and Spain. With some difficulty because of illness, later diagnosed as Lyme Disease, she eventually graduated from the visual arts high school, Escuela de Artes y Superior de Conservación y Restauración, in Salamanca, Spain, in 1999. This was a turning point in her artwork, as she now gravitated towards creating more uplifting work after being bed bound with illness for a period of time, not wanting to add more darkness to her life. Black and white artwork marked by sadness transformed into joyful and colorful creations that became the hallmark of her painting style.

After graduation, and with improving health, she pursued her love of percussion, studying drumming in Los Angeles and Guinea, West Africa. Still drawn to the visual arts, she received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Savannah College of Art and Design in 2013. Although no longer playing percussion, she likes to connect the idea of rhythmic patterning to that of visual patterns, which often populate her work.

Daniella resides in Placitas, New Mexico, where she works as a freelance artist. She recently started to make a lifelong dream come true, taking flamenco dance classes when health permits as a fun hobby and inspiration for her paintings.