Your Full Name
Daniel Duke Panosian
Tell us about you
I’ve been in the comic book and illustration/design biz since high school. I’ve been working for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image Comics as well as Dreamworks, Disney, Universal and various ad agencies across the globe. Some video game covers and design, like X-Men, Duke Nukem, Moon, Mortal Kombat, etc. I was the lead designer of a video game that later became Kung Fu Panda and I’m one of the founding members of the original Drink and Draw Social Club.
In your opinion, what would be the secret ingredients to become a great illustrator?
Loving what you do is key. If you love what you do you’re going be active within every aspect of it. If you passively enjoy art/illustration then you’re not going to be interested in learning and growing.
When you stop growing as an artist you’re not improving. The art world moves quickly and if you grow stale, after a while there’s going to be someone coming up that does what you do better or there’s going to be a new art movement/direction that passes you by. It happens all the time.
Where are you located?
I currently live in downtown Los Angeles.
What is the most fascinating part of being an illustrator?
Problem solving and creating something from a blank sheet of paper. It can be a magical experience.
Where do you get inspirations from?
Everywhere. Online there are blogs, forums and even dedicated artistic social networking sites dedicated to artists such as www.deviantart.com . But I also find inspiration from watching people. Examining the way light touches objects. Art is everywhere. So is the inspiration. I really enjoy what I do. It’s endlessly fascinating.
How do you promote/ sell/ showcase your work?
I’m online quite a bit and the comic books I draw are also great showcases.
What is your long range goals in your life?
I’d like to write/draw/letter/color my own stories.
What types of assignment/ project are you attracted the most? Why so?
I’m interested in single character comic books, as oppossed to group comic books. I like the idea of focusing on a single individual and really creating a solid visual language and identification with that character. I enjoy group books but they’re much more challenging from a story telling POV.
Who is an illustrator that you look up to? Why so?
I’ve always admired Frank Frazetta. As a person and as an artist. If I could have a career like his that would be a dream come true. But in the end, there’s only Frazetta. Hopefully I’ll come into my own one day and another artist might look at me in the same way. Well, one can dream, right?
What do you think about the Internet and how it is affecting our lifestyle?
The internet has changed my perspective on drawing and enhanced my life a great deal. I would never guessed something like this would have such a huge impact on society.
If you could turn back time, how would you do things differently?
I would of gone to a good art school and studied my little keester off. Building a solid foundation is very important.
How do you keep your work fresh? Do you need to consciously adapt your style or does it progress naturally?
My style is adapting nicely and I think that’s because I’m constantly trying to improve. Hopefully, what I consider improvements aren’t too jarring to fans.
Name 3 of your favorite (art) books/ magazines.
I loved 100 Bullets from DC Comic’s Vertigo line of comic books. An amazing series. Magazines like Wallpaper are very inspiring. Giant Robot is generally inspiring.
What is your life motto?
Smile more.
In what kind of a work environment do you do your best work?
Less is more. Less referene, less clutter. A clean studio with some nice music.
What do you like the sound of? Why so?
I like the sound the city makes. It’s alive and lets you know that things are happening all around us. Everywhere you look.
If you have online portfolio, what is the URL?
I have several.
- http://www.urbanbarbarian.com
- http://urban-barbarian.deviantart.com
- http://www.danpanosian.com which needs some serious updating…
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