The Art of Community: Artist Danielle Cremisino View of Water Colors
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
There is a formula that all water colorists know. They combine dried pigments with water to create art. The resulting work is not diluted to just a pretty picture. And there is science to back it up — Utah State University found that painting with watercolors increases confidence and promotes healing (Jenkins, 2022). Painting requires the artist to step away from the screen. As researcher Jules Epstein (2024) notes, the idea that humans have shorter attention spans than goldfish is a myth, so how can someone translate the benefits of watercolor painting on social media? I found the social media maverick who does this. Artist Danielle Cremisino discovered a solution to shrinking attention spans and found a way to build her community of over 400,000 through her social media tutorials. I spoke with her to learn more about her work.
Danielle Cremisino Interview
1. What is art?
Art is expression, in any form - and its imperfections are what make it wonderful.
2. What’s your artistic journey?
I grew up painting, and drawing (more long-form sketching, that would take 4 hours+ to complete) so I took a very long sabbatical once I had kids, because I didn't realize art existed for me in a shorter form. Once I picked it back up in October 2025, I started doing whimiscal illustrations (which very quickly snowballed into live events, and commissions, by accident) and just an overwhelming positive response to my art. Once I started posting on Instagram, I tried a few formats to figure out what would resonate. Eventually, I taught a few in-person art classes and kept receiving feedback from people who had never done art before, saying the way I broke things down into shapes made the process much more approachable and less scary, and that they were creating things they were actually proud of. I took that insight, tried it on social media, and the rest is history. I realized I had a real knack for seeing and distilling art into simple shapes, and loved putting my own design spin on the entire vibe of the setup, music, voiceover, nails, etc.
3. How has your work evolved?
I used to focus intensely on perfecting a hyper-realistic sketch, but now I just enjoy picking up a paint brush and some color - whenever I can fit it into my busy schedule. Sometimes that's an hour a day, and sometimes it's 10 minutes. However long it takes, I want to finish a piece. I despise coming back to something (ha! perhaps because I am usually 'in the mood' to paint a specific piece) so I love to embrace whatever I think I can finish in the amount of time I have.
4. How do you incorporate your mission and vision into your work?
I don't necessarily have a proper mission or vision yet, but I aim simply to inspire all levels and skill sets to pick up, and relax around art (whether for the first time, after a long sabbatical, with their kids, or as a way to unplug). I want to debunk the same myth I perpetuated when my kids were young: that I needed to be perfect, or have a great amount of time or skill to create something I was proud of. None of that is true. Art is play, and even my worst pieces end up being a learning lesson (even if its just in humility hah!)
5. What advice would you give to students and young professionals who want to start their own business? Â
Follow your passion. Whether that's starting an art business, or going to law school. Your energy will flow where your passion lies. If you love it, you will pour a greater sense of self, work, and pride into it. Some days are filled with self-doubt, and fear. Take things one step at a time, do your research, stay connected to a supportive network, and don't be afraid to ask questions or admit when you need help. (And trust me, we all need help).
6. What’s your next chapter?Â
I literally have no idea. I was laid off from my corporate advertising job in January, and started my art business around the same time. My life has simply changed overnight, and I'm equally excited, grateful, and terrified. I hope the next chapter is bigger than anything I ever dreamed of for myself. When I was little, my first answer to "what do you want to be when you grow up" was "an artist". I feel like I'm finally returning to my roots and my authentic self -- something I wouldn't have done had I not been laid off
Cremisino's formula is simple, but its impact is not. By translating the meditative practice of watercolor painting into user-friendly, screen-friendly tutorials, she has done what many thought impossible: preserved the soul of an analog art form in a digital space. Her growing community is proof that attention is not shrinking; it is simply searching for something worth holding onto. For Cremisino, that something is a brush, a pigment, and the confidence that comes from making something beautiful.
Join her a snail mail club (Crem Press) that ships internationally, now representing 42 states and 8 countries. I started it in January, as a way to go analog in the new year, and it's resonated with so many people worldwide.
Resources
Jenkins, C. (2022, May 2). How art can improve your mental health. Utah State University Extension. https://extension.usu.edu/mentalhealth/articles/how-art-can-improve-your-mental-health
Epstein, J. M. (2024, January 6). Are we no better than goldfish? Temple University Beasley School of Law, Advocacy and Evidence Resources. https://law.temple.edu/aer/2024/01/06/are-we-no-better-than-goldfish/
