Tell us a bit about yourself…

Let’s see – I’m Danielle Krysa and I have a BFA in Visual Arts, I’m a graphic designer, an art blogger, an author, and a mom to my sweet son, Charlie. Two years ago we moved back to my tiny hometown and settled into a 100 year old farmhouse on the side of a mountain overlooking a lake. It feels like our very own little slice of heaven. I do enjoy a hit of big city every now again mind you, so I always try to have a few book or curating projects going in places like LA and New York.

HOMETOWN: Summerland, Canada

CURRENT TOWN: After years in Toronto and Vancouver, I’ve just moved back to Summerland!

FAVE ICE CREAM FLAVOR: Anything involving brownie chunks

FAVE BREAKFAST FOOD: Hashbrowns – extra crunchy

FAVE HOLIDAY: My birthday. Yes, I’ve officially made that a holiday.

FAVE COLOR: Tie between neon coral & light aqua

FAVE MOVIE: Dirty Dancing (I totally just dated myself)

FAVE DECADE: 80s (I did it again)

How did you begin curating art?

I made up fake shows! In the first year of my blog (2009), I used to curate/post my “dream shows” – collections of work that I would love to hang if I had a white-walled gallery at my disposal. It’s so crazy that less than two years after that, galleries started asking me do it for real.

Is there a story behind the name of your company?

Yes – I started “The Jealous Curator” for me, with no plans of ever having readers or a community. It was more like a form of self-prescribed art therapy. I was so overwhelmed, and depressed quite frankly, by the huge amount of amazing art that I was finding online. I was truly jealous of these artists and their work. It was eating me alive, and I was exhausted. So I decided to own it, and say it out loud as “The Jealous Curator”, because that’s what I was – a jealous curator. By sharing artists’ work that I loved, that toxic soul-crushing jealousy turned slowly, but miraculously, into admiration. It was a life changer. I’m no longer jealous – just excited and inspired – but my business cards are already printed, so the name ain’t changing!

What are the most rewarding and the most difficult parts of running your own business? 

The most rewarding part is knowing that I’m in charge of my own success. The most difficult part is knowing that I’m in charge of my own success. Yep, it’s a wonderful sense of freedom, mixed with a dash of nail-biting fear. But, I think I’ve finally arrived at a place in my life where I don’t worry as much as I used to. At the root of it all, I know that I’ll land on my feet as long as I don’t give up.

How would you describe your style?

Hm. Eclectic? I love a lot of different kinds of art, but I suppose there are a few themes that emerge: I love work with a clean/design feel, work that seamlessly blends fine art and craft, and work that looks like the artist might have a touch of OCD! Oh, and portraits. I’m crazy for portraits.

If you could travel anywhere, where would it be?

I went to Bali a few years ago, and I’d go back in a heartbeat. And Paris, anytime.

If you could possess a superpower, what would it be?

An all powerful healing touch. Then I could sleep at night instead of worrying about my little boy.

Tell us about your new curated collection with the Land of Nod. 

I’m really proud of this collection! I chose these artists and their works as a curator, but I also had my “mom” hat firmly on. When my son was a baby, I had a really hard time finding cool art for his room – art that he would like, but also something that I wanted to look at while rocking him in the middle of the night, and during diaper changes, and when we were lying on the floor pretending to be [insert any farm animal here].  That’s what this collection is all about. I chose fun, fresh, candy-hued pieces that are perfect for the nursery/kids’ room, but that are contemporary enough to transition smoothly into the “grown-up” areas of a home as your babies grow up (why do they have to grow up!?)

How would you style it in a room?

I chose pieces that work well together, and also purposely made them different sizes… this is a recipe for a really rich, visually interesting gallery wall! ps. Groupings in odd numbers are usually the most successful.