The Painted Room - Marsh Danner

"Nobody's ever going to pay me for my art" was Marsh Danner's thought when she changed her college major from art to communications.

Little did she know that the combination of art and communication would lead her to success with her own business -The Painted Room - in 2003.

"I started by working with murals for friends, and then I began doing decorative finishes within the murals," Marsh says. "I wanted to approach it in a more sophisticated manner."

Marsh laughs and adds that "the murals keep me up nights." One of the questions she asks is "Does my personal artistic style meet the client's style?"

"I learned in my communication classes that when you say "horse", each person sees that horse differently," Marsh says, and so she spends a lot of time sketching before the mural is started. However, she finds a great deal of satisfaction in the fact that "nobody can do it just like you."

Marsh credits Kathy Carroll with helping her business behind the scenes.

"One of the things I love about taking classes or buying product from Kathy is the backup support," Marsh explains. "Sometimes the color, or the product or even the client is scary -- missing steps can really put you behind."

Speaking of color, Marsh notes that in the southwest "we are less traditional in a color sense - we push the edge of the envelope." In terms of sales, she sells "on individuality, hand finishes and custom coloring."

When asked what gives her the most pleasure in her career, Marsh says that the answer is simple: She gets to pick and choose what work she does. "Of course, if you don't work, you don't eat, " Marsh adds "and each time I have a new boss."

For more information on Marsh Danner and The Painted Room, contact her at mdanner2@cox.net or at 602-999-4006.