standing her ground Painting

danielle crilly is a grateful artist painting in her home studio in Wheaton since 2004. After leaving a career in publishing, Danielle began studying art and exploring the expression of images that linger along the edges of consciousness, soul memories, through painting. Informed by her upbringing as a farmer’s daughter in Central Illinois, her early work often featured expressionistic landscapes layered with vibrant acrylics and childhood memories. The paradoxical rhythms of Danielle’s history fueled a desire to unearth and reclaim the hidden grace that shines in dark hours and unexpected places, giving voice to the haunting presence of longing for beauty in a fallen world. “Everything is beautiful in its time.” Her latest paintings in oils and pastels emerged from long hours poring over old family photographs inherited from her grandmother. She found herself pulled back into other eras, intrigued by the styles and stories that found photos tell. The gatherings, celebrations, and everyday lives of these women feel instantly familiar. Danielle discovered these are shared memories, moments of invisible connection and longing.