Remember our March client of the month Dani? Well, we are so stoked to tell you a little bit more about her and the amazing art she creates! 😍
Danielle Milne is an emerging artist based in Brisbane. She predominantly paints women as she believes that the stories of women are inspiring and deserve to be told. These stories focus on the personal lives of women brought to life as hyperreal paintings. Dani combines images from fashion magazines, film and the Internet to create profound narratives. What I particularly love about Danielle's artwork is that she deliberately erases the brushstrokes in her paintings to mirror the airbrushed perfection of fashion magazines. This technique gives her work an illusion of almost jumping off the canvas.
I have been a massive fan of Danielle's artwork for some time, as have several of our clients, who have commissioned her to create paintings for them! I sat down with Dani to talk to her about all things food, female empowerment and her first solo exhibition, coming to Brisbane in June and to Melbourne in July!
Note: I've included my absolute favourite artworks of her Dani's in this blog. I had so much trouble only picking ten!
1. What will people experience in your exhibition "The Solo Mum"?
"The Solo Mum" is an autobiographical exhibition based on my experiences as a solo mum. The exhibition is bold, bright, blunt, and tempered with wit.
When I first fell pregnant there were no positive role models of single mothers for me to look up to. It would have served me well to hear their stories and share in their experiences. "The Solo Mum", my first solo exhibition, responds to this need.
This exhibition breaks the negative stigma that is often attributed to single mothers as ‘women with baggage’ by showcasing a life with a child as being filled with opportunity and adventure, not burdensome encumbrances. It’s going to be great fun and I’d love it if the PPF community came to see it. All welcome!
2. What biscuit would you be and why?
I make these choc chip and pretzel cookies for Henry. They’re the right amount of sweet and salty. I’d be one of those, mostly sweet and just a little bit salty when provoked.
3. What do you listen to when you paint?
I mostly listen to audiobooks but in the afternoon when I start to get tired, I’ll switch it to R n B from the early 2000’s. It gives me an energy boost to keep going.
4. Where does your inspiration come from?
That is an excellent question and a bit difficult to explain but I’ll do my best. I’m always looking at and collecting fashion photography. When an image speaks to me I’ll save it, often not knowing when or if I’ll ever use it.And when I’m composing the painting, I liken it to cooking without a recipe. I go by feel and I listen to my inner voice/knowing. However, for The Solo Mum, there were key stories that I wanted to share so I had to go hunting for images to tell these stories. If I have an exact idea about how I want the painting to look, it can be very frustrating when I cannot find images to match my idea so,I’ve learnt to just be open. This has allowed the works to reveal themselves and evolve organically. It also allows for more creativity because I’m responding to the images as I find them.
(I then ask Danielle to unpack the inspiration behind one of my favourite works of hers; the above painting)
The painting, “Her eggs are old,” was named after an actual comment that was said about me, by another woman, to another woman, while I was sitting beside her. In one fell swoop my value had been reduced to my ability, or rather perceived inability, to procreate. This antiquated social assessment from centuries past is cruel and dangerous. If a woman’s worth is measured by this standard then what about the women who cannot have children? Or choose not to have children? Are their lives worthless?
A woman’s worth is the totality of who she is, and I am, along with every other woman, so much more than just my body, my age, and my beauty. There is no limit to our worth. Our value exists far beyond social determinants.
I was feeling hurt, I knew other woman had experienced the same negative bias so I took all those yucky emotions that I was feeling and made a painting about it.And it’s a cracker of a painting. I love it. The whole process was very cathartic.
5. If you were on death row, what would be your last meal?
This is hilarious! Henry (Dani's son) asked us this exact question at the dinner table last night so I have my answer ready for you. Breakfast would be at Pina in Potts Point, Sydney and I would order the sourdough hotcake with bacon. Lunch would be at Tarte Bakery in Burleigh Heads and I would order the breakfast burrito and one of their pastries. Dinner would be at Beccofino and I would order their calamari fritti, one of their specials (because they’re always good) and a pasta dish. And dessert would be at Messina where hopefully they would have “It’s so wrong it’s right” as one of their specials. If not,I’d get Cone-ception, Super Dulce De Leche, and White Chocolate and Hazelnut.The jail could cancel my execution because I’m pretty sure that I’d be dead from over-eating after this feast. What a delicious way to go though!
6. Your work screams female empowerment. What do you wish for the women of the future?
Oh where do I begin?!
I want woman to know deep down in their bones that they are equal to men and I want men to treat them accordingly. I want women to declare what they want and go about getting what they want and don’t apologise for it. Do not dim your light for anyone! I want the gender pay gap to close. I want more women in leadership roles. I want women to be financially savvy so they can provide for themselves. I want women to feel and be safe.
7. What part of the human face is your favourite?
Can I say that I like the whole face? I like the whole package. I like a face that actually moves. It’s far more interesting to look at. Sometimes what is considered a mistake in an artwork is actually the most interesting and beautiful part of the piece. It’s what keeps your eyes going back and looking at it. I think this applies to people too.
8. What is the cutest thing your son Henry has ever said / done?
Love language is a big deal in our house so Henry makes my knees weak and my heart melt on a daily basis. This morning I dropped him at school and there was a bus load of Moreton Bay Girls at his school for sport. He got out of the car, smiled at the young ladies, got his bag out of the boot, and as I drove off, he yelled out his usual goodbyes, “I love you! Have a great day!You’re my favourite!” Waving enthusiastically and completely unselfconscious. He is always unapologetically himself and I hope he holds onto that.
9. What, in your opinion, is the best Italian meal? (Dani's family is Italian)
My family are from Genova which is in the North and Henry and I lived there when he was 15 months old. The best meal would include the focaccia di Recco and the fried anchovies from Pizzeria Del Ponte in Recco. Pansotti with walnut sauce from the local fresh pasta shop near my family’s home. And the gelato in Boccadasse is heaven. Henry’s first gelato was here and he cried when he finished it. We share a passionate love affair with food.
10. What would your eulogy say?
I want all my funny and naughty stories shared. The more inappropriate the better! The challenge for everyone will be to make the female priest blush. But seriously, I do hope that they can say “leading Australian artist,”“best mum/nonna ever,” and “brought joy to others.” And if you do intend oncoming to my funeral way, way, way in the future, you better dress up and look sharp, no black and definitely no jeans!
Thank you so much for our chat Danielle! To catch "The Solo Mum" exhibition, head to Grey Street Gallery in Brisbane from June 21st- July 2nd. To see this exhibition in Melbourne, go to the Black Cat Gallery from July 27th - August 7th. To see more of Danielle's art pieces, check out her studio website.
Click here to see Dani and our other incredible Premium Pilates Clients of the Month!
We love hearing and sharing stories of our community, so if you have an awesome project that you want to share with the world, let us know! Here's an insight into another talented client of ours; Pete Keith!
