Today’s 5+5 contributor is one of my favorite people on the internet—Danielle Krysa. Danielle’s keen eye and knack for sussing out great artistic talent are amply evident on The Jealous Curator, a blog that’s been delighting and inspiring artists and art lovers alike for years now. Danielle started the blog as a way of slaying her own art-making demons, transforming the toxic envy she felt looking at other artists’ amazing work online into a source of inspiration for herself and countless others. (Myself included!) The blog led to all sorts of amazing things: she’s a regular contributor to the sites of once and future (I hope! Check your inbox, Emily!) 5+5 contributors and has published two amazing books—Collage and Creative Block —with our friends at Chronicle Books, which feature many a beloved 20x200 artist in their pages.
All of this is to say that Danielle’s a force to be reckoned with, and one who undoubtedly uses her force for good. Danielle’s incredibly prolific, awfully generous and almost unfailingly optimistic. She’s probably one of the nicest curators I’ve ever come across, and I’ve gotta admit… I’m just a wee bit jealous of all she’s achieved. (In the best possible way, of course. Of course!) xo, Jen
5 Perfect Picks
1) Fourth of July Sunday School Picnic, Patuxent River, Maryland, by Marjory Collins
I am a sucker for all things vintage - add to that the fact that I grew up in small town on a lake and this piece is calling my name. You can almost smell the summer air gently blowing through that willow tree.
2) Cake, by Clare Grill
Mmm. Chocolatey goo! I love Clare's loose brushstrokes, the glow from those hot pink candles, and that it sort of looks like the whole painting is melting a little bit. Also, it really makes me want cake.
3) Photographer's Dilemma, by Tatsuro Kiuchi
It feels vintage, but modern at the same time. That field of deep yellow, the old school camera, and that stripey strap... so fantastic!
4) Stay Icy, by Martha Rich
Oh, Martha Rich. I love everything Martha does, but her cakes are at the top of my list. Neon palettes as the backdrops to icing covered cakes that look just like the ones mom used to bake! Stay icy, baby, stay icy.
5) 28 Camera Drawings, by Christine Berrie
I had to do a double take to make sure these sweet cameras were actually drawings! Little bits of artsy history, beautifully drawn, and gathered up into one perfect collection. (Each camera could be its own print, but seeing all of them in one place is even more fun!)
5 Q's + 5 A's
1) What's your favorite museum?
The Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris. I would love to set up a tent in one of the huge hallways and just live there. I'd have breakfast each morning while overlooking Paris from the rooftop cafe - then I'd just wander around all day, completely inspired/overwhelmed. (PS. I love MoMA too!)
2) Most coveted coffee table book?
"Girls Standing on Lawns" by Maira Kalman & Daniel Handler - I could flip through this one over & over again, and find a bit of new inspiration each time. (And, it's probably really uncool to pick this one, but ... I love my book, "Creative Block" because it's filled with pages and pages of art by some of my favorite artists!)
3) You've got $5M to spend on one piece of art. What would it be?
One piece? Hm, I could get A LOT of really great art for $5m. I think I'd have to get a little grouping of original work by Andy Warhol.
4) Do you prefer a single statement piece or a salon wall?
Statement pieces are bold, fantastic and exciting, but I love so many different things that I could never make a decision on just one piece (see previous answer as a perfect example of that!). I'll have to go with a salon wall.
5) If you could be reincarnated as an artist, who would you want to be?
Diane Arbus (but without the tragic ending). I would love to see the world through her lens.
The 411 on Danielle Krysa
Danielle has a BFA in Visual Arts, and a post-grad in Design. She has worked as a designer and Creative Director for 15 years, and is the writer & curator behind the contemporary art site, The Jealous Curator (launched 2009). Danielle writes daily posts showcasing artwork from around the world, has written articles for several magazines including Anthology, and Frankie, and in 2014 she published two books, both with Chronicle Books, titled “Creative Block” and “Collage”. She has just started writing her third book that will be released Fall 2016. Danielle has curated art shows in Washington DC, Vancouver Canada, Chattanooga TN, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and is currently working on an upcoming exhibition in New York. She's also had the great pleasure of being a guest speaker at PIXAR, and was recently featured in several video segments on oprah.com.
Professional Site: The Jealous Curator Twitter: @jealouscurator Instagram: @thejealouscurator
Pinterest: @jealouscurator Facebook: The Jealous Curator
Read the prior 5+5 with Darius Himes »
