ABOUT ME
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I have always been an artist and I have always loved horses...
My name is Darynn. I grew up in a small town on 5 acres surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. As a child I lived the rural lifestyle centered by nature and my favourite animal companions. These pets were my closest friends, companions and muse for my creative mind.
The horse has always been specifically more inspiring than the rest. Throughout my entire life I have had a strong connection and bond to their being. This admiration is the strongest and most consistent theme among my life’s work. |
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In my teenage years I would draw as much as I could. Every day I would come home from school and get lost in the imaginative worlds I created. It became a form of escape when life got difficult or whenever I felt an overwhelming emotion. As I matured, I did not limit myself to any particular medium. I began experimenting with charcoal, paints and ink. I became fascinated with all the forms of expression: digital arts, film, photography, writing, sculpting, sewing, dance. I would try anything, because it freed my soul in a way I could not shake. |
When I turned 14, I developed a strong interest in photo realistic drawing using graphite and charcoal. My keen eye for shading and details quickly turned these portraits into a business where I was able to sell my work locally. I was commissioned to draw people’s pets from 2010-2014. It was an exciting time. I started entering my work into fairs and competitions to see how it compared to the rest of the world and to my surprise it did quite well.
This was when I realized, I could do this for the rest of my life. I knew I had something special when I was fortunate enough to receive first prize in the Canada wide Royal Canadian Legion Poster Contest and was invited to Ottawa to meet the highest representatives of Canada. My art was taking me places I could have never dreamed.
This was when I realized, I could do this for the rest of my life. I knew I had something special when I was fortunate enough to receive first prize in the Canada wide Royal Canadian Legion Poster Contest and was invited to Ottawa to meet the highest representatives of Canada. My art was taking me places I could have never dreamed.
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With the art world being so vast. I chose to pursue a career in film. Film always stood out to me as one of the most powerful art forms. It was the industry that had the clearest job path as I wished not to freelance at this time. My dream was to have my characters brought to life through animation.
In the fall of 2014, I decided to move away from my beloved family, and animal counterparts to start a new chapter at Vancouver Film School.
In the fall of 2014, I decided to move away from my beloved family, and animal counterparts to start a new chapter at Vancouver Film School.
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I studied for two years at VFS enrolling in Foundations of Art and Design & 3D Animation and VFX. Through the course of these two years, I explored myself, my art and fell in love with every aspect of creating. It was challenging, but so rewarding. My second-year project “From Here To” went on to be screened at the International Vancouver Film Festival and toured around the world. I was not only able to create characters, but provoke emotion to my audience.
I carried my skills for the next two years into a career within the industry. Working on a couple TV shows, Nickelodeon’s Lucky and Netflix feature The Willoughby’s, I found myself bouncing around contract to contract. This was not the stability I was hoping for. I learnt a lot and had a lot of fun but also suffered a lot of hardship. I struggled to find comfort within the city. I missed my horses, the physical world, the mountains. Being bound to a computer 8 hours a day, although creative, was not healthy for my mind or my soul. |
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Amidst my depression I stumbled into model horse painting. Lacking the real horse connection day to day and the physical art forms I grew up loving, I thought model horses would be a perfect realm. They not only combined my love of equine, but the physical aspect of creating. It was an instant love like no other. I started a care free Instagram and grew quickly. I was able to sell my work to collectors and start my own tutorial YouTube channel. I realized what was most important through this kind of artwork.
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I made the heartbreaking decision to move back to my hometown and quit the animation industry all together. Instantly my world opened up again, and the desire to build and create my own business has been stronger than ever. I am thrilled to be a part of a community that respects what I do, allows me to work from home and pursue my passion. I am thankful for this art that combines all my loves together. I am able to paint horses, admire horses, sell my work, teach others and make friends from all over the world.
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Somedays it's hard to do art as a 'job', but it is the only job I can see myself doing. It consumes me. I do not know where my arts will take me, it is constantly evolving and changing. I will always continue to chase my dreams, start projects that push my abilities and challenge the medium. I want to create work that moves people, inspires them and maybe someday changes the world...
In 2022 I left my part time job to become a full-time artist. I have successfully worked for Breyer, completed several Sold-Out original sculpture editions and am a highly sought out commission and finish work artist. Now nestled in the Rocky Mountains once again, I live with my husband in our home equipt with a 500 square foot art studio and Quarter Horse gelding Drifter.
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Art has given me a voice.
This webpage is a compilation of my work over the years. As well as links to my external pages on social media. Thank you for visiting, reading, and admiring my work Feel free to contact me with inquiries, questions or comments - Darynn |
EDUCATION
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AWARDS
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PUBLICATIONS
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