Capturing the feeling of a memory.

That was one of the first things I thought about when I came across Deli's work.

Have you ever been somewhere: a wedding, a concert, a holiday, even just one of those strangely perfect afternoons, and taken a million photos trying to hold onto it? You capture what everything looked like. The people, the place, what you were wearing, the view in front of you.

But sometimes you wish you could take a photo of what it felt like.

That, in my opinion, is something Australian artist Danielle Frost, better known as Created By Deli, does incredibly well.

Her paintings don't just show you a destination. They somehow capture the feeling attached to it, and, just as easily, can make you nostalgic for somewhere you've never actually been.

And frankly, we accept no responsibility for any flight tabs you open while reading this interview.

From her studio in Coffs Harbour, Deli paints places both real and imagined. Sometimes they begin with somewhere she has travelled. Other times they grow from different memories, colours and places being pieced together until they become somewhere entirely new.

And I'll admit, despite that rather poetic explanation, if I do say so myself, there was another, slightly less profound reason Deli first caught my attention.

The Big Banana.

I spotted one of her paintings featuring the iconic Coffs Harbour landmark and immediately had one of those wait, I know that moment. It brought back a cherished family memory of my own, and suddenly I was looking through the rest of her work spotting kangaroos, Australian beaches and scenes that felt instantly familiar.

My first thought was basically: Big Banana. Kangaroo. Aussie beach. Perfect for an Aussie August Artist Spotlight.

A highly sophisticated curatorial process, obviously.

But the more I looked through Deli's work, spoke with her and thought about why those paintings had connected with me in the first place, the more I realised there was something much more interesting underneath that initial familiarity.

It wasn't simply that I recognised the places.

It was that they reminded me how places become attached to people, holidays, stories and entire periods of our lives. And how sometimes seeing one small thing (apparently, in my case, a giant fibreglass banana) can bring all of that rushing back.

That idea sits at the heart of so much of Deli's work.

She describes what she creates as "joyful escapism": colourful, nostalgic paintings designed to give people somewhere to disappear into for a moment. Sometimes that means remembering a place you've loved. Sometimes it means dreaming about somewhere you haven't been yet.

And sometimes, as I discovered, it means unexpectedly finding one of your own memories staring back at you from somebody else's canvas.

And while the finished paintings have an easy, sun-soaked quality to them, the story behind Created By Deli has involved considerably more courage than kicking back underneath a beach umbrella.

What has grown into a full-time creative practice began with Deli making the decision to take her art seriously, one painting, one opportunity and, as she tells us, one fairly terrifying leap of faith at a time.

Since then, her creative life has taken her far beyond the walls of her Coffs Harbour studio. Alongside her own painting practice, Deli has found herself travelling across the world and live-sketching weddings as they unfold, capturing another kind of fleeting moment in real time.

It is a wonderfully fitting extension of her work.

Whether she is painting a coastline from memory or sketching a celebration happening directly in front of her, Deli seems drawn to the moments we wish we could hold onto for just a little longer.

Sometimes a painting does not need to challenge you or ask something enormous of you. Sometimes it can simply make the room, and the person standing in it, feel a little brighter.

We have always believed there should be plenty of room in the art world for that kind of joy.

Deli also felt like a particularly lovely artist to close out Aussie August: From the Bush to the Beach with. Throughout the month, we have been celebrating the landscapes, stories, artists and creative perspectives that make Australian art what it is, and the coast appears again and again throughout Deli's work, sometimes literally, sometimes through that unmistakable sense of light, colour and ease.

Even when her paintings take us somewhere much further afield, there is something about them that still feels wonderfully at home beside the Australian coast.

For Art Shed, Artist Spotlights have always been about looking beyond the finished artwork. We want to know about the strange beginnings, the experiments that went nowhere, the decisions that changed everything and the person who kept making things long enough to build a creative life around them.

Deli's story has plenty of all four.

In this Artist Spotlight, she takes us inside the world of Created By Deli, sharing how her creative practice began, why travel became such an important part of her work, how she turns memories and imagined places into paintings, what life as a full-time artist actually looks like and the leap of faith that helped bring her here.

So grab a cuppa, mentally clock off for a little while and come travelling with us.

No passport required.

Let's meet Deli.

Deli's answers have been lightly edited for spelling, punctuation and clarity without changing her meaning or voice.

Meet Deli

I'm Danielle, although most people know me as Deli, and I'm the artist behind Created By Deli. I paint because I genuinely don't know how not to.

Art has been part of my life for as long as I can remember, but Created By Deli came from rediscovering that love after feeling like I'd drifted away from it.

My practice is a mix of large-scale original paintings, prints, commissions and live wedding sketching. One day I'll be painting a colourful Australian coastline in my studio, and the next I'll be travelling across the world capturing someone's wedding day in real time.

Every part of what I create is centred around telling stories and creating pieces that people form lasting emotional connections with.

I'd describe it as joyful escapism.

My work is colourful, nostalgic and full of little details that invite you to slow down and explore. I love painting places that make you feel like you're on holiday, whether it's an Australian beach, an Italian coastline or somewhere completely imagined.

I want people to look at a painting and feel something before they even realise why. Maybe it reminds them of a family holiday, somewhere they've always dreamed of visiting, or simply gives them a moment of calm during a busy day.

Permanently in "Artist Mode"

I think my brain is permanently switched into "artist mode."

I'll notice the way afternoon light hits a building before I notice the building itself. I'll look at shadows on the sand, the colours in someone's outfit, interesting rooftops, reflections on water or the way trees overlap.

Sometimes it's exhausting because my mind never really switches off, but it's also a gift.

Even when I'm travelling or having coffee with friends, I'm subconsciously collecting inspiration. My camera roll is full of random corners of streets, colourful umbrellas, interesting windows and shadows that probably make no sense to anyone else.

Travel, Home and Finding Inspiration

Travel completely resets my creativity.

When you're somewhere new, you notice everything because nothing feels ordinary yet. Colours feel brighter, architecture feels more interesting and even simple moments become memorable.

I love bringing those feelings home. Sometimes a painting is inspired by somewhere I've actually been, and other times it's a collection of memories blended together into a place that doesn't really exist.

I think that's what I love most, that feeling of possibility.

Living in Coffs Harbour has definitely influenced the way I paint.

Growing up surrounded by beaches, rainforest and open spaces teaches you to appreciate colour in nature. Our coastline has this beautiful relaxed energy that I don't think I'd paint the same way if I'd grown up in a city.

Even though I love travelling overseas, Australia always feels like home. I think that's why Australian landscapes keep finding their way back into my work.

Inside Deli's Studio

Usually I start with a feeling rather than a colour palette.

I might know I want a painting to feel warm, nostalgic or peaceful, and then the colours naturally evolve from there.

Sometimes the finished painting looks nothing like what I imagined at the beginning, and I actually love that.

Colour has a funny way of telling me where the painting wants to go.

Definitely music on.

I'm usually in the studio with coffee nearby, music playing and a million different paintings sitting around me. Some days I'll spend eight hours completely absorbed without noticing the time.

Other days are filled with packing orders, answering emails or travelling for weddings, so I've learnt to embrace that creativity doesn't always happen in one perfect uninterrupted block.

Honestly, good quality masking tape.

It's not glamorous, but it makes such a difference. Crisp borders completely elevate a finished piece and give it that professional feeling.

I'd also say my camera roll is probably my most valuable "art supply." It's where almost every painting begins.

Almost every painting has an awkward stage.

I've learnt not to judge a piece halfway through because that's usually when it's the least exciting. If something isn't working, I'll often leave it overnight. Coming back with fresh eyes solves more problems than trying to force creativity.

From Studio Painting to Live Wedding Sketching

They balance each other beautifully.

Wedding sketching has taught me confidence and to trust my instincts. I don't have hours to second-guess a line, so I've learnt to commit.

My studio practice gives me permission to slow down, experiment and play.

I think each side has made the other stronger.

Finding the Work That Actually Felt Like Hers

Rather than one specific painting, I think my Holiday Often collection marked a turning point.

It was the first time I felt like my work truly reflected who I am.

It combined my love of travel, colour and storytelling into something that felt completely authentic.

That's when I stopped trying to paint what I thought people wanted and started painting what genuinely excited me.

I don't think I realised it at first.

Over time I noticed people telling me they felt calmer looking at my work, or that a painting reminded them of a holiday they'd taken with someone they loved.

That's when I realised my paintings weren't just about landscapes: they were about giving people a place to mentally escape to.

Life can feel heavy sometimes. If one of my paintings gives someone thirty seconds where they feel lighter, that's pretty special.

To me, timeless art isn't about following trends.

It's about creating something that still feels meaningful ten or twenty years from now because it's connected to a memory or emotion.

The most treasured artworks usually aren't the loudest ones. They're the ones that quietly become part of someone's home and life.

So... How Do You Actually Become a Full-Time Artist?

It was definitely scary.

I don't think anyone ever feels completely ready to leave the security of a regular income, but there came a point where I realised the bigger risk was wondering "what if?"

I backed myself because I knew I'd regret not trying.

There were plenty of moments where it felt uncertain, but every challenge taught me something.

Looking back now, I'm incredibly grateful I took that leap.

Usually it's the ideas I can't stop thinking about.

If I keep coming back to a colour combination, a place or a memory, I know there's probably a painting waiting to happen.

For me it's always driven by feeling before composition.

When Your Passion Becomes Your Job

I make sure not everything has to become a product.

Some paintings exist purely because I wanted to paint them.

The moment every piece is created to satisfy an algorithm or sell, I think you lose a little bit of what made people connect with your work in the first place.

If You Feel Like You've Lost Your Creativity

I'd tell them that creativity doesn't disappear, it just gets buried sometimes.

We spend so much time comparing ourselves or waiting until we're "good enough" that we forget why we started.

Create badly if you have to. Make things just because they're fun again.

The joy usually comes back before the confidence does.

You don't need permission.

You don't need thousands of followers, expensive supplies or a perfect plan.

The people you admire also started with one painting, one customer or one scary decision.

The biggest difference is that they kept showing up.

Your creativity deserves a chance before you decide what it could become.

Being an Australian Artist

Australia has such an incredible visual identity.

Our beaches, native flora, wildlife and landscapes are unlike anywhere else in the world, and I feel really proud to celebrate that through colour.

I hope my work encourages people to appreciate not only the beauty overseas but also what's right here at home.

A Message to the Art Shed Community

Firstly, thank you.

Whether you've bought one of my paintings, followed along online, attended a wedding I've sketched at, or you've only just discovered my work today, thank you for supporting artists.

Every time you choose to invest in creativity, you're helping someone continue doing what they love.

To the artists reading this, don't underestimate the value of your own perspective.

The world doesn't need another artist painting exactly like everyone else. It needs the way you see it.

And to anyone who has ever looked at one of my paintings, I hope it reminds you that the world is wonderfully big, endlessly beautiful, and always worth exploring. Even if you can't jump on a plane tomorrow, I hope my work gives you a little window to somewhere that makes you breathe a little deeper, dream a little bigger, and remember that adventure is never too far away.

Explore the Work of Created By Deli

There were plenty of things we loved hearing from Deli, but perhaps the biggest was how refreshingly normal so much of the creative process actually is.

Paintings have ugly stages. Inspiration disappears sometimes. Turning art into a career is scary. Algorithms can suck some of the fun out of making things. And apparently good masking tape deserves considerably more respect than we've been giving it.

But Deli's story is also a pretty good argument for continuing anyway.

Keep making the work you genuinely want to make. Give yourself room to create things that never need to sell. Walk away from the painting when you're forcing it. Come back tomorrow. And if you've been away from art for a while, you haven't necessarily lost anything, it might just take a little making to find it again.

We're incredibly grateful to Deli for sharing her practice and creative journey with the Art Shed community.

You can explore Deli's original paintings, prints and Holiday Often collection through Created By Deli, or follow along with her latest work and travels on Instagram.

[Explore Created By Deli]

[Follow Created By Deli on Instagram]

This Artist Spotlight forms part of Aussie August: From the Bush to the Beach, Art Shed's month-long celebration of Australian creativity, landscapes, stories and the artists who bring them to life.

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