Dani Axani Edmonton Artist

Dani is a local Edmonton artist and illustrator specializing in acrylics, alcohol-based markers and body painting.

WHERE DID IT START?

Being raised in a home heavily focused on the needs of my sister’s physical disability and support, art and overall creativity became an outlet for me. As a sibling, I helped out where I could and it was a lot. Most activities and hobbies needed to be done at home and painting and drawing provided me an escape from the expectations and responsibilities of day-to-day life. As an adult, it would be part of my career, though my grand ideas of earning a living as a painter have evolved into something a little more pragmatic. HOW DO YOU DEFINE YOUR NEED FOR A CREATIVE DRIVE?

I have always been goal oriented – always wanting to better myself. Like athletics, art is no different when it comes to achieving a personal best, you always have something to work on and improve. Stopping makes you rusty. I like the feeling of knowing I’m getting better, seeing progress and receiving feedback and recognition from people who appreciate what I do. Whether I have been commissioned to paint someone’s face or a pet portrait, it brings me much joy to have someone fall in love with a painting I have completed. I love getting lost in a painting or drawing, focusing on each line or colour blend; on which tones I should work on next and on what colours will make the piece more visually appealing. It’s like working on a complex puzzle, problem solving one small segment at a time until you have something you are really proud of and happy to show.

Regardless of my housebound childhood, I have always been a very social person. A neighbour once asked if I could paint his niece’s face for a football game, and after doing this, my brain kind of exploded. I love kids. I had spent a few years working in a daycare and then worked as a graphic designer. As much as I loved my job, I missed the kids and it occurred to me that I could have both! I could have a creative outlet while interacting with my child or adult canvas. My favourite part is showing them what I have created and watching their facial expression as I hold up a mirror for the reveal. It gives people confidence and I love being able to give that to them.

EFFECTS OF THE COVID PANDEMIC

Before COVID, I painted often, finishing an acrylic painting every few months and had worked on a “princess steampunk” series with alcohol-based markers. My main focus was face and body painting. I would go to different events like farmers markets, birthday parties and annual barbeques. This plus my full-time job kept me busy. Then COVID happened and suddenly life slowed down. I got laid off from my job, events stopped, and face and body painting was put on hold. This forced me to slow down, take a break and remember why I loved art and what it meant to me. What do I do when I have nothing to do? When I have to stay home? I create art! One day a friend sent me the cutest picture of her cat and I needed to draw it, so I picked up my markers again – something I hadn’t done in a long time. Once finished, I realized I needed to do more. I made a Facebook post, showing this latest creation and asked if anyone had pet pictures to share. Needless to say, I got a bunch of pictures in my comments of friends pets which kept me busy and happy during my COVID lay-off.

“It gives people confidence and I love being able to give that to them”

PET PORTRAITS DURING COVID

My new routine was waking up, having coffee, spending the day in my studio drawing, and taking breaks to get outside for a bike ride or two (another new love in my life). Each time I posted a new piece of artwork on social media more and more artwork requests were made. So much so, I am now known for being the “pet portrait” woman and I love that I can do this for people. Our pets become such a big part of our lives. They are our family and they keep us sane when we have to stay at home. They make us take them on walks and make us wake up in the morning. Our pets love us unconditionally when we need them. I capture the happy memories of them as something you can always cherish, even after they are gone. My hopes now are to continue doing pet portraits and to expand my work into illustrations for children’s books and articles. I would also love to eventually be able to do more body painting again, once COVID restrictions are lifted and it is safe to do so. The future feels promising and I’m excited to see where my path will take me.

Enjoy this video and see how my art comes to life. To have a portrait done of you or your pets, please connect with me on social media

Author - Dani Axani