Amidst a busy life practicing immigration law, Danielle Nelisse finds tranquility through her art. Getting close to twenty years of law practice, the California Western School of Law graduate is often trading the courtroom for her Bonita art studio, returning to her love of creating large abstract paintings. Her artistic journey is “more of a return to a former love than a gradual, lifelong progression.”

Her love for painting began as a young girl, but her pragmatic sensibility led her to major in public administration and pursue a law degree from California Western School of Law.

Some of her oil paintings have been inspired by her personal experiences, including her travels throughout Europe; capturing the colors of Italy, the music of Austria, and French high fashion.

As a law student Nelisse studied abroad in Europe. Even though one of her law professors was Supreme Court Justice Scalia, every moment she could she spent in a European art museum studying art masterpieces.

Prior to becoming an attorney, she worked as a Private Investigator. Nelisse operated a detective agency in an office over the Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego that hired solely female investigators and worked on some of San Diego’s most notorious murder cases.

Known for her adventurous spirit both in life and on the canvas, the Detroit born artist was trained by master level artists to take risks with her art by using unpredictable colors and broad gestural lines.

Transitioning from one career to another has not been easy, but she finds ways to balance the business side of things with her creative side. She is a woman at home in the world and her paintings are full of light, color and ambiance.

“Sometimes I can be a perfectionist on the business side, but with art I feel like I can let that go, so it’s nice to escape into my artwork,” Nelisse states.

Her international group of art collectors include interior designers, newly retired baby boomers creating their dream interior design, fortune 500 companies, as well as colleges like the University of Melbourne in Australia.