Danielle Doctor
BIO:
Danielle is an artist based in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. She primarily works with water-mixable oil paints but has experience with many other traditional drawing and painting media, as well as digital.
Her husband and 3 kids are very supportive of her creative endeavors and will often accompany her to gallery openings, art stores, and in the studio. She has a long history of mental and physical health struggles. Art has always been a huge part of Danielle's life and identity as she has used it as a coping mechanism throughout many difficult periods of life.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
Her current work is influenced by her aphantasia (the inability to visualize mental imagery) and focuses on finding balance between grief and joy. After her father passed away in 2019, she spent countless hours digging through old hard drives of digital images. The photos brought back many fond memories despite their low resolution, and Danielle realized that these pictures were the only visuals she had of the past, as she is unable to pull up images in her mind. The grief of losing her dad was immense, and the thought of losing these photos as well was worrisome. However, every hike, trip, or other outdoor activity reminds Danielle of how much he loved being out in nature. Even though the ache is constant, she knows he would want her to focus on finding small moments of joy all around her.
The pixilation represents the reliance on the digital images to hold onto memories but also serves as a blurring effect to symbolize how holding onto the past too much can blind us from our present experiences. The realism symbolizes taking the time to slow down and enjoy small, wonderful moments in our surroundings. These moments help us cope with loss, but will also become moments lost, as we move through life finding purpose and joy amongst the pain and grief.
Education and Career:
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Bachelor of Arts in Education (Art K-12) from the University of North Florida
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Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from Jacksonville University
Past Exhibitions:
2026 - Annual National Juried Art Show, Academy Center of the Arts, Lynchburg, VA
2026 - Danielle Doctor: An Introspective Retrospective, Artis Center, Radford University, Radford, VA
2023 - Teeny, Tiny, BOLD, Rountree Gallery, Platteville, WI
2022 - Digital Directions, MFA Circle Gallery, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD
2022 - Like Clockwork, Vestige Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
2021 - Up Close and Personal, Trolley Barn Gallery, The Art Effect, Poughkeepsie, NY
2020 - Divulge: A National Exhibition Featuring the Use of Art for Therapy, Coping, & Mental Health Awareness, D’Art Center, Norfolk, VA
2019 - MFA in the Works, Alexander Brest Gallery, Jacksonville University, FL
2017 - Sketchbook Exhibition, ArtisTTable, online
2016 - Northeast Florida Art Education Association Spring Member
Juried Show, Unity Plaza, Jacksonville, FL
2016 - Ladies First, ArtisTTable, online
2013 - Senior Exhibition, Lufrano Intercultural Gallery, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
2013 - 2nd Floor Galleries, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL
2013 - Student Juried Annual, Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL
2010 - Water, Pablo Creek Library, Jacksonville, FL
