A place for paintings, objects, and ideas.

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A place for paintings, objects, and ideas. *

A decorative wooden outdoor wedding arch with pink curtains, a small round table with two chairs in front of it, set in a grassy field with sheep grazing and trees in the background.

“My work is an exploration of what it means to be human.

To love, grieve, hope, wander, and become.

Through creating, I explore visual stories that invite reflection, imagination, and connection.

The space between nostalgia and possibility.

Where symbolism and story meet. The enduring beauty of being human.”

- Darcy Slusser

A painting of lavender and herbs on a fabric background with a border of alternating beige and lavender stripes.
A close-up of a colorful, hand-painted rectangular artwork featuring a fish, surrounded by decorative floral elements and enclosed by a black and white striped border, laid on a neutral fabric background.
Green satin fabric backdrop decorated with pink satin bows.
Green satin fabric backdrop decorated with pink satin bows.

Past Tense. Present Soul.

A woman in a white dress standing on grass in a field, holding a small bouquet, looking up with her eyes closed, surrounded by trees in the background, framed with a vintage floral border. 
Hello, I'm Darcy!

My art practice is rooted in romantic grit, timeless storytelling, and reverence for the human experience. Inspired by nature, folk art, sacred spaces, forgotten heirlooms, and the poetry of everyday life, each piece made becomes a relic reborn, carrying its own story forward.

Step Into The Story

“Honey & Thorn”

A painting about the tension between human nature and becoming.

The bloom and the thorn. The harvest and the labor. The sweetness and the sting.

Nature holds space for it all at once.

The Collection

  • Colorful painting of fig branches with purple figs and green leaves, set against a background with a blue sky and a white sun, surrounded by a red border.

    The Fig Print

  • A painting of a goose with a white face, orange beak, and a blue bow tie, surrounded by a decorative green and pink floral frame with small blue flowers. In the background, there is a checkered pattern in shades of olive green and cream.

    The Strawberry Duchess

  • A painting of a blue flower with green leaves on a red background, surrounded by a purple arch with small green leaves and white stars.

    The Sacred Stem

  • A colorful abstract painting of red flowers with green leaves on a blue background.

    A Place For Two Blooms

Discover More Art

Curiosities & Answers

Every piece has a story, and every artist has a process. Here you’ll find answers to common questions about my work, commission opportunities, brand collabs, prints & products, and the creative practice.

Wander Further

  • I create original hand-painted and handmade pieces inspired by nature, memory, faith, relationships, and the beauty found in everyday life. Many of the original art pieces are also available as archival fine art giclée prints.

  • Yes. I accept commission projects. If you’re drawn to my style but don’t see exactly what you’re looking for, I’d love to start a conversation.

  • Each print begins as an original hand-painted artwork. Prints are reproduced using archival giclée printing methods to preserve the color, texture, and character of the original piece.

  • I love partnering with brands, organizations, and fellow creatives who value thoughtful storytelling, artistry, and meaningful experiences. Whether you’re envisioning commissioned artwork, creative content, design opportunities, event collaborations, or something entirely unique, I’d love to hear what you’re dreaming up.

  • At the heart Ballad is humanity – the quiet mess, the touch, the emotion behind every object. Honoring the handmade, the flawed, the lived-in. To be human is to create from the inside out. To let the soul leave its mark.