A bit about me. . . .

My name is Danielle Burns.  I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana.  As far back as I can remember, I’ve always created some form of art.  As a teenager I was a keen painter and had the privilege of being accepted into the New Orleans Centre for Creative Arts (NOCCA).  I began university as a fine arts major, but life took me in another direction and I ended up graduating with a Bachelor in Marketing.  My creativity was stifled by a life of full-time work in order to have nice things and pay the bills.  That lasted for awhile until I knew things had to change.  

In 2009 I sold everything I owned and bought a one-way ticket to New Zealand.  My intention was to travel and redefine myself.  New Zealand’s beauty and nature called me to the other side of the world.  Little did I know, it would change my life and fulfil my intentions.

While traveling up north I visited the Kauri museum in Matakohe.  I was blown away by the wood carvings and left filled with inspiration and my very own block of Kauri wood.  All I had was a Swiss Army knife, so I whittled the block of wood into my first wood carving.  It proved to be the most satisfying and relaxing form of art I had every experienced.  Carving sparked an undeniable passion!  

I spent a few years traveling and eventually returned to New Zealand to live. Once I received my residency I began attending The Learning Connexion School of Creativity and Art.  I’ve mostly concentrated my time on sculpture, carving Oamaru stone, wood, ice carving, sand sculpture and bronze casting.  At the end of 2021 I finished my Level 7 Diploma in Creativity and Art.

Festival of Elements sculpture competition - 2016