Coffee @ 10 with Dani Knoph Davis

Making time to be in nature and to learn about local wildlife inspires Dani’s work. Growing up in Michigan, Dani cherished time on the lake, looking for bass and turtles, observing clams, and searching for Monarchs in the meadows. After attending the School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan, Dani relocated to Seattle where she illustrated and sold her first collection of salmon paintings. Working with small round brushes and many layers of transparent watercolor washes, she developed a style of illustrating species, inspired by renowned artists of natural history. 

In 2012, Dani put down roots in Northern Michigan where she continues to develop a large collection of Michigan wildlife illustrations including trout, turtles, butterflies and now birds. Taking a deeper dive into ecology, her new work aims to educate viewers on the relationships of birds and habitat. 

"During the process of creating a painting, I feel gratitude for the beauty found in nature. As I grow older, the process of painting and learning about wildlife is meditative, a form of spiritual practice that can then be shared in the form or art and inspire acts of conservation."