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Danna Fruetel
I have a motto that I live by: “My Only Desire is to Inspire.” This is why I do what I do. It is always my hope that you look at my art and feel a spark of desire to go out and do something that brings you joy. While doing that, your creative passion will spark others, too. I want my art to brighten someone's day. To make them feel a connection to the rhythm of the Universe. To understand that they are a little tiny piece of it all.
Danna Fruetel
Scratchboard Artist
Signature Member - International Society of Scratchboard Artists Marketing and Newsletter - International Society of Scratchboard Artists Newsletter - Iowa Artists
I have a BA in Business and worked in that field for many years. Later in my life when I had children and began working in the schools with Special Needs children in order to work in the school schedule to spend more time with my own children. Then I was forced to stop working due to a disability and found my way back to the art I loved as a child. That was 9 years ago. I now spend my time working on my art and volunteering with art groups. Art is what I surround myself with. I classify myself as a scratchboard artist. I was attracted to this medium 13 years ago because of the dramatic contrast that can be achieved. Before scratchboard, I was a graphite artist but often became frustrated by not being able to achieve the deep blacks I desired. Since I discovered this medium in 2013 it’s been my main focus. Scratchboard is not a fast medium and larger pieces will often take me a month to complete. I usually work 4-5 hours a day at my studio at the Art Center in Newton, Iowa. I also work in Gouache and Oil Pastels. There are many times I just want to have fun with wild designs and colors. These two mediums help me do that and they don’t take forever to complete. During the winter of 2020, I published my first children’s book ( I am the writer and illustrator). In 2025 I completed a small poetry book.