Hi Daniel, tell us about yourself…
I am from Indiana where I also teach art and illustration at the collegiate level. I’ve been working as an illustrator for six years for various fields and applications and love the challenges that illustration brings. I have a B.S. In Illustration, an M.A. In Oil Painting, and I’m in the midst of my M.F.A. In Illustration.
How did you decide to be an artist?
It started with being able to draw slightly better than other kids. I used to be very inspired by ‘beating’ everyone else at drawing. Now I work hard not to pit myself against other artists unless it’s to learn from them or to find weaknesses in my own work. My inspiration is to utilize my God-given talents to their fullest - we were all created to do something great with our lives and to better the world around us!
What materials do you use?
All of my illustrations are created using Adobe Illustrator. The software is unique because the images created in it are ‘resolution-independent.’ This means my artwork can be re-sized for a postage stamp or a billboard and it will never lose it’s quality. It is really good for flat shapes, patterns, clean edges – some of the consistent visual themes in my illustrations.I didn’t always make my illustrations on the computer, it has been a long but exciting process as I learned how to draw on the computer and exceeded my previous works using acrylic paint, gouache, and Primsacolor pencils. I still love the tactile qualities of collage, paint, printmaking and I try to replicate some of their distinct qualities in my digital art.
How long does it take you to make an illustration?
Each commissioned illustration is unique and comes with different deadlines, purposes, sizes, etc. I am constantly introduced to new challenges which I really enjoy and helps keep me fresh! A single full-color illustration, like a book cover, can take me anywhere from 25-50 hours depending on the complexity. This also includes all of the time spent corresponding with the client, creating sketches, designing patterns, research, and revising artwork. Often times within six business days I can have a completed illustration though many times it takes longer as the client will need time for one reason or another to look at the piece.
What artists influences you?
My style can easily be associated with illustration styles of the past. I am heavily influenced by the mid-century works of UPA (Gerald McBoing Boing, Mr. Magoo), Hanna-Barbera ( Quick Draw McGraw, Huckleberry Hound), John Sutherland Productions (It’s Everybody’s Business, Working Dollars), TerryToons (Underdog), and more. The style has it’s roots in cubism and in creative solutions to technical and financial limitations in the television animation studios of the time as budgets and staff were beginning to be cut.
In all of my illustrations I focus heavily on formalist design which always leads to exciting discoveries. I love playing with contrast, repetition, variation, size, space,etc….the whole gamut of principles and elements that I learned years ago have stopped being ‘rules’ and are now challenges. I especially take inspiration from working with limited tools or resources to develop unique solutions that may not occur if I had unlimited options. I enjoy finding ways to implement great design in unexpected, hidden, and amusing ways.
What is your philosophy for making art?
I have a simple philosophy when it comes to illustration: Do something INCREDIBLE.
There are only so many hours in the day, years in a life…why waste them on something I’m not proud of? I want every piece I do to be something incredible in three ways: First that the piece would clearly stand out to the public as something different and something great; Second that the creative process between myself and the client would lead us to an awesome solution, to excel in the collaborative component of illustration; and Third that I could push myself conceptually and technically and won’t settle for trite solutions
What are your goals for the future?
I really enjoy working on individual or short sets of illustrations. It’s nice to be able to focus more on the concept than on continuity. However I would love to break into more narrative based illustration where I get to tell a story over a longer series of images. The opportunity to work on picture books or heavily illustrated stories for young readers interest me from both the challenge level and the opportunity to tell a meaningful stories.
What advice do you have for aspiring Illustrators?
Two things: Draw more than everyone you know. If you do, your skills will increase dramatically. All art boils down to the conceptual stage, sketches and drawings. You need to learn how to visually express your self quickly and efficiently, learning not to hold onto ideas to tightly but to pump out lots of good ideas regardless of your initial preferences.
Second: Read, read, read! Read about art, science, poetry, history, biographies, short-fiction, anything that you can get your hands on! It’s easy to go intellectually stale and a steady diet of new ideas keeps you fresh and can shed light on your life and art from a different angle.
Be sure to visit Daniel’s website to see more of his fantastic work.
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This was inspirational indeed.
Fantastic! Thank you so much, Jonathan and Daniel, for a great interview. Inspirational and informative! I like that advice: “Draw more than everyone you know.”
I really dig his enthusiasm.
We used to buy him a ream of copy paper about every couple of months when he was a kid for drawing. He also “illustrated” of the walls of his bedroom! We’re proud of you Daniel! Mom & Dad
Daniel is an inspiration to us all. He holds a very high bar for us all to try to jump over… i need to remind him that i’m too fat to jump.
great interview - great work!
Very good advice for all who seek to improve our skills. Mr. Magoo, Underdog….those were my cartoons and haven’t thought of them for awhile (oh, oh, dated myself). Daniel’s work is awesome and I would take his class in a second.
Great interview Jonathan.
And wonderful work Daniel. Thank you for sharing with us.
I’m a new fan of this blog and just as I’m starting to dig into the meat of it, I’m finding myself already intrigued and genuinely inspired. Thanks!