Danita Grant: A Journey into the Arts

By Heike Hellmann-Brown

A former president of the Alpha Arts Guild and member of the Roswell Fine Arts Alliance, Danita Grant is an ambassador of the arts. As the oldest of six children, she grew up in Chicago in a family of modest means, but with great appreciation for classical music and visual art. In 1974 she moved to Georgia with her husband, raised four kids and worked as a systems analyst for the City of Alpharetta.

At age 50, Grant encountered a turning point. "Soon my children would leave home. How would I deal with this dramatic change?" she recalls. "It was time to plan my own future and figure out what to do with the rest of my life!" She pursued different interests, but wanted to focus on something that works well with the aging process. "Being very analytical, I found that painting opened a new world to me not just the creative endeavor, but also the social aspect."

Grant's first art teacher happened to be the illustrator of "The Elf on the Shelf" children's book. From then on she continued her education with many instructors. "Every teacher moved me forward," she notes. "I am incredibly inspired by each of them artists who are so present to their students, give guidance and graciously share their spirit."

Grant sees her venture into art as a journey and encourages others to follow as their interests and talents lead them. "Producing a piece of art is a continuing challenge. I learned to be humble and to persevere and approach it as a never-ending growth opportunity. Not being born with a talent often holds people back from exploring their creativity, fearing failure and rejection. Each of us has an enormous potential. Approach gardening or cooking as an art form! Step out of the box and be yourself! It may make you feel vulnerable, but the reward is immeasurable."

Even at this stage in her life, Grant sees herself as a work in progress. "Life is not over when kids leave the house. Now, as a senior citizen, I have an insatiable thirst of history and am constantly exploring new areas of growth. My advice is to be more introspective. 'Who am I? What can I achieve? How can I contribute to society?'"

When Grant paints, she loses herself in the process. "Art is meditative. There is no urgency, merely the enjoyment of the journey. Creating art piques my curiosity and intrigues me. There is an innate drive in me to express myself. The more you do, the more you test. But, it all starts out with: 'Yes, you can!'"

While this journey means exploring different mediums and techniques, there is one piece that Grant is the most proud of: "'Compromised' was painted after a photograph of a bald eagle in Alaska. Although it was in captivity, it showed a regality of spirit," she explains. "It's such a strong patriotic theme, and it fills me with pride that this piece hangs in the office of a member of the U.S. Air Force."

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