Artist Profile: Danny White

Name? D. White

Age? 33

Location? Bushwick,  Brooklyn, N.Y.

What do you love most about where you live? Roommates, archive coffee house, and my piece of shit metal stoop.

Where did you grow up and do you feel it influenced yr art? Queens to begin with, but honestly most of my growing up was done on Long Island, but it was done in so many different places. We moved around alot, and traveled a ton when I was young. with so many people coming in and out of my life, my ability to draw is what I would always use as a way to make new friends, and have something to share with people.

Describe yr work in 3 words.  Birds in boxes.

Did you have formal training or are you self-taught? Not much as far as art goes. in high school I had a great teacher that gave me alot of confidence, as did my family and friends. I think often that they liked what i was doing alot more than I did at the time, but it helped me pull through. more then anything I would say that music informed my art… painting was something I did when I was listening to music.  It sounds corny, but I think that rock-n-roll really saved my life, and as I’ve grown it’s only become more important for me.  I like to think that each painting I make is like its own little pop song.

When did you start creating? My aunt recently showed me some drawings I did when I was about three years old. It’s of Batman and Robin running towards the viewer just like in the opening of the old 60′s t.v. show…I didn’t start painting for real ’till about 2000 though.

What time of day are you the most artistically productive? Lots of ideas will come very early in the morning.  I love to follow through with them late at night with a bottle of wine and a pack of smokes…work till sunrise.

What are some things/people/places that inspire you? There is a place called the Witches Brew coffee house out on Long Island…incredible place.  It’s this house that was built in 1910 I think, and it’s filled with magic… creaky floor boards, dark nooks, a basement staircase that still resonates with some of the biggest laughs I have ever heard.  It has been a direct link for me to the power of possibility.  I also kinda love the Brooklyn bridge.

If you could collaborate with any other artist or product line, what would it be? A guy named Pheo is the man…great artist. I’ve done a series of sneaker paintings, so it would be a thrill to someday get to create a color way for a pair of kicks. Few guys out in Seattle I think that go by the name Ames bros. that do concert posters,  I would kill to get to work with them.

What is yr favorite medium, and why do you think you are drawn to it? When I said earlier that I think of each painting as a pop song, I meant it. So with that in mind, they tend to come fast and out of the blue…as if you were just going for a walk and started whistling this nice little melody.  I tend to need to get them out of me quick, so acrylic is the best bet for me.

What were you like in high school? Horny and stupid. Also I would write out top ten lists from Letterman and pass them out in class to get people to smile.

What do you usually occupy yr time with on the weekends? Lately lots of painting. Restaurants, walks, movies, friends… and baseball when I can get free tickets.

Favorite music and why? Ok,  this is all over the place, but I’ll give you the song that I have most recently been listening to alot: Lydia the Tattooed Lady by Groucho Marx.  I also can’t seem to get over Ezra Furman and the Harpoons….best band alive!

Where can we find your work? Hopefully lots of places soon.

Note: Here’s the site where you can purchase some of Danny’s work. It’s under construction right now, but will be up and running by Monday, October 26th…

rwhartonline.com