After spending four years at the University of Miami, artist Dani Ferraro grabbed her 
BS in marine biology and made her way north to Atlanta in the summer of 2016. In the city, she found a large and supportive community that helped her get in touch with her creative side. Now, while she works full-time at the Georgia Aquarium, she’s building an artistic career as her side hustle.
Her behind-the-scenes Instagram videos leave you mesmerized by the movement she brings to her pieces with ink. It moves around in waves, similar to the ocean that she studied in school.
This emerging artist is quickly making a name for herself at markets around town as she works on her upcoming brand launch. Here, Dani shares more about how she discovered her artistic side, what drew her to alcohol inks as her favorite medium, and the dream goals she has on her list.
CommonCreativ: What drew you to Atlanta?
Dani Ferraro: I’m originally from Durham, North Carolina, but have found a second home in Atlanta. I knew I wanted to be in a Southern city – as far away from snow as possible – but close enough to visit home. I didn’t expect to love Atlanta as much as I do. I love that Atlanta is a transient city. I’m constantly surrounded and inspired by interesting people from different backgrounds. I’ve found myself with such a strong support system and community here – they’re the reason I stay. My Atlanta family pushes me to expand my horizons, and I’m a better person and artist for it.
CC: You studied Marine Biology at the University of Miami. How does your interest in the ocean influence your work?
DF: I’ve always loved the ocean and I definitely feel as if that translates to my work. The number of blue and green inks I own is easily double than any other color. I love to study different aspects of how the ocean moves, from its fluidity and serenity to how it crashes against the shoreline. It definitely inspires some of the movement within my work.
CC: How did you transition from marine biology to pursuing art?
DF: I’ve always leaned toward the creative side of things. I’m a big lover of books and writing. It wasn’t until post-college that I truly started to explore what it meant for me to express myself as an artist. I’ve always loved the ability to create something from nothing until it became an itch that I couldn’t ignore. I felt a need to create.
CC: What attracted you to alcohol ink as a medium?
DF: I love how forgiving alcohol inks can be! Anyone who has dabbled in watercolor or acrylics can tell you that they are tricky mediums. I was fascinated by how bright and vibrant alcohol inks could be. I had been primarily working with fluid acrylics but realized very quickly that my bedroom floor isn’t flat – a hazard when working with a medium that relies on gravity.
I fell into working with inks and have been hooked ever since! I love how challenging they can be, sometimes with a mind of their own. My style has evolved within this medium as I’ve learned new techniques – and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.
Artist Dani Ferraro // Photo by Zoe Kafkes
CC: Tell me about your creative process.
DF: So much of my creative process is about mood and vibe — I can’t force the creativity. If I know I have commissions to work on, I’ll try to make my space as conducive to the creative process as possible. I’m a big fan of a good set of twinkly lights and candles, but I also try and pull inspiration from other mediums, especially poetry and nature.
I mostly work with Copic Various ink on non-absorbent paper. I pair my inks with various mediums to manipulate it across the paper. To put it simply: I make a huge mess! It’s a balancing act between the inks, medium, and how you choose to move them.
One of the reasons I love working with Copic inks so much is their range of colors! Diving deeper into this medium, I’ve found myself studying color theory and applying it to my artwork. As for shapes and texture, it’s all in the practice. I typically go into creating a piece with an idea of what I want, but sometimes you have to let the ink speak for itself.
CC: How do you hope people react when they see your work?
DF: My goal is to create art that makes people feel something — whether it’s what I intended or not. My room is covered with artwork that I saw and couldn’t get out of my head until it came home with me. That’s what I hope for my art. I want to invoke emotion, for my artwork to get under your skin and make you feel. I also hope for my pieces to be timeless – to be a little piece of artwork that can transcend art trends and follow its collectors as they move throughout the stages of their lives.
CC: Aside from inks, are you hoping to dive into any other materials or media in the future?
DF: I’ve had my eye on working with resin for a while – but I know that it’s a challenging (and expensive!) medium. I’ve been experimenting with inks on tile recently and it’s been a lot of fun. I’ve also been eyeing combining my love for pen drawings with my abstract work.
CC: What inspires you?
DF: I pull inspiration from a number of outlets: nature, music, poetry. I try to take advantage of Atlanta if I’m ever feeling stuck. I recently did a series of skylines, inspired from a vantage point in my neighborhood! I live right off the BeltLine and it’s incredible to see all of the local public art and how people interact with it. I love surrounding myself with creative people if I’m ever feeling uninspired.
Seeing their excitement and pride over their art often inspires me to keep pushing. I treated myself to a membership at the Atlanta Botanical Garden this year, an endless point of inspiration, as it changes every season. Many of my friends work as actors in Atlanta, so I love to pull inspiration from the work they perform in, from the music to the costumes and back!
CC: What artistic accomplishments make you the proudest?
DF: Had you told me a year ago the art I create has resonated so much that people would be reaching out for commissioned work, I wouldn’t [have believed] you. I think I’m proudest that I’ve come this far — and that I’ve put my art out for the world to see. It’s an incredibly vulnerable position to put your heart and soul for others to critique. Artistically, I’m not afraid to take risks and try things that I’ve never done before, and I think that’s a major personal accomplishment. I’m proudest that my art is purely and unapologetically me.
CC: How do you promote yourself and your art?
DF: Instagram is a great place to start! We live in an age of social media, might as well take advantage of it. I’ve also started working local artist markets – the Artist and Maker Market run by WonderRoot has a scholarship table you can apply for. My biggest advice is to take advantage of what your city has to offer – the contacts and friends I’ve made at local artist markets have encouraged and introduced me to larger markets! Don’t be afraid to get your feet wet, you never know where it’ll take you.
CC: Do you have any personal goals or dream collaborations?
DF: Oh absolutely – I’d love to dip into the pottery and jewelry world at some point for a collaboration! I’d also love to do something large scale and really push myself as an artist. One of my dreams is to see my work either in a gallery or in a coffee shop. The possibilities are endless, and I love that there are so many avenues for me to explore while expanding my business.
Photo by Zoe Kafkes
CC: What do you think about Atlanta’s current arts scene?
DF: I think Atlanta has a great local arts scene! It is constantly growing, but it feels as if we’re all moving towards something together. The artists and makers are so supportive of each other while also building on their own projects — it’s a really special community, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
CC: What’s next for you?
DF: Ahh, so much! I’ll be at a few upcoming markets: Pancakes & Booze on November 30th and the Indie Craft Experience Holiday Market on December 9th! But mostly I’ll be focusing on commission work for the holidays. In the new year, I’ll be expanding my branding to include an online website and hopefully one day you’ll see my art in a local gallery.
CC: Why do you make art?
DF: It sounds cheesy, but I make art because I can’t not. I make art because it’s my way of putting my heart and soul onto a page and sharing it with others. It’s rewarding and challenging and worth it every day.
You can find more of Dani Ferraro’s work on her Instagram.
