Danna Fruetel
Scratchboard, acrylics
BA, Business
CAA studio artist since 2021
For many years Danna Fruetel was a participant in the business world. Later, after she started a family, she worked with special needs children in public schools for a time — until she was confronted with her own disability. That situation led her to rekindle a love for art that had been with her since childhood.
Today, Fruetel, who is completely self-taught, focuses on developing her technique. Drawing inspiration from the natural world, she prefers to work plein air. She’s always eager to pack up her board and tools and hit the road. And since she enjoys painting, she's just as likely to bring along her canvases and palette.
These days Fruetel is particularly attracted to scratchboard mostly because of the dramatic contrast the media invites. However, it can be an incredibly time-consuming endeavor, sometimes taking months to complete one immensely detailed work. Her favorite thing though is hiding motifs and messages in her art which keeps her excited about creating and, she hopes, intriguing to the viewer.
Fruetel has two grown children and resides in Newton with her husband.
Affiliations:
• Signature Member, International Society of Scratchboard Artists
• Treasurer, International Society of Scratchboard Artists
• Former Vice President and President, Iowa Artists
