BELLEFONTE — Last month, when three pieces of work by Bellefonte artist Dani Kaulakis sold at the Bellefonte Art Museum for Centre County before the show even opened, she spent most of the day smiling.
‘It was my first time showing there,’ Kaulakis said.
Her work differs from that of nearly every other artist in the area, and it doesn’t fit neatly into any one category. She creates digital images in a rather technical manner, using a digital drawing pad that transfers her images to a computer. This gives her work a fluidity in outline. Kaulakis uses a digital drawing pad, which transfers her images to a computer. This gives her work a fluidity in outline.
‘Stylistically, I’d call it art noveau or art deco,’ she said, ‘and I get a smoothness and a gracefulness of line that I find visually appealing.’
Kaulakis said she would describe her work as ’empowered, dynamic, strong and exciting.’ Her subject matter sets her work closer to the steampunk or fantasy genres than to anything else, and the art she creates has a dreamy quality reminiscent of mid-20th-century storybooks. In fact, Kaulakis has illustrated several books in a line called “Sally Slick.”
‘She’s an adventurous, young American girl,’ Kaulakis said. ‘She’s a lot like Rosie the Riveter, in that she’s strong.’
She has a passion for depicting strong, heroic women, including roller derby players and Nordic goddesses. Having designed the logo for the U.S. Roller Derby team, she serves as creative director for the State College Area Roller Derby league.
‘I’ve done images of very athletic women in action poses,’ said Kaulakis.
Freya, one of the Nordic deities Kaulakis finds fascinating, has a prominent role in some of the artist’s most popular pieces. She depicts her in a chariot drawn by two cats in one of the pictures that sold at BAM.
Having studied Norse mythology in depth, she found that sometimes the goddesses appear too romanticized.
‘I want to depict her as cool as she really was,’ Kaulakis said. ‘Freya is someone who can take care of herself.’
The lives of historical figures from a variety of times and places, mythic beings from near the Arctic Circle and real-life athletes dominate Kaulakis’ work. Her website, www.danikaulakisart.com, has a collection of her work, and Good Intent Cider in Bellefonte has her work on display.
