ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: DANYON STREET
Join us for an interview with one of our artists, and check out his fantastic artwork!
WHAT IS YOUR ARTIST NAME (REAL NAME OR ONLINE HANDLE. IF AN ONLINE HANDLE, WHERE DID THIS NAME COME FROM)?
My name is Danyon Street.
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
I am from Melbourne, Australia.
IS ART YOUR FULL TIME PROFESSION OR A SIDE JOB?
My art has been a full time profession for over three years now.
DID YOU STUDY ART FORMALLY? OR WERE YOU MOSTLY SELF TAUGHT?
I was originally self-taught, however I later studied at university and graduated with a Advanced Diploma in Professional Games Development, specializing in Art at AIE. For the past year I have been mentored by Anthony Christou who has been in the industry for over 10 years.
WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL JOB IN ART BE? SOMETHING FOR GALLERIES? AN ART DIRECTOR FOR A GAME STUDIO? OR JUST BUILDING YOUR CAREER IN FREELANCE?
I would like to be expanding towards several areas, as I feel it is good to have multiple ways of earning income as a career artist. However, I am also working on my own IP called “The World of Iron” which I hope to release in the next year or so and that is based around the Steampunk Genre.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MEDIUM TO WORK IN? DIGITAL? PAINT? PENCILS? SOMETHING ELSE ENTIRELY?
My favourite mediums of work are mainly digital, but I was also trained in oils and ink. So when you see me at conventions you will see some traditional ink drawings or oil paintings that I sell exclusively as an original.
WHERE DO YOU MAINLY POST YOUR ARTWORK? WHERE CAN FANS FIND MORE OF YOUR FANTASTIC WORK?
Well at the moment I am mainly visible on Artstation, Instagram and Facebook. However in the coming weeks I will be active on Twitter, Youtube, Patreon, and Twitch.
WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND YOU OR CONTACT YOU IF THEY WANT TO COMMISSION WORK FROM YOU?
Obviously Instagram, Facebook and Gmail are what I mainly use, so any of these are a good way to contact me:
*Email: hi@danyonstreetart.com
*Facebook: Danyon Street Art
*Instagram: @danyon_street
WHAT KIND OF THINGS DO YOU DO TO IMPROVE YOUR ART?
I have been practicing art pretty much since I was about 3 or 4 so for me it has been a massive part of my life. And I grew up around my parents who teach dancing, so the arts have been around me as long as I have been alive on this earth.
DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE THINGS TO DRAW?
My main specialty is definitely Steampunk, however Fantasy and Sci-fi have always held a massive place in my heart too. I grew up drawing aliens, cryptids, dragons and prehistoric creatures, so these genres are clearly important to me.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ANY NEW ARTISTS WHO WANT TO BECOME PROFESSIONALS?
My usual and life-long motto that I believe in is just two words “Show up”, because no matter if you didn't do so well or you did brilliant you still showed up to it and you did what 80% of people didn't do and that's what helped me to get where I am now.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU'VE MADE WHILE BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL ARTIST?
I would probably say that doing fanart and relying on that instead of my own creations was a definite drawback, and really limited what I could achieve and improve on.
HOW HAVE YOU FOUND WORKING ON WARTIDE? HAS WORKING ON A LARGER LONG- TERM PROJECT BEEN DIFFERENT TO OTHER WORK YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST?
I have loved working on this project as it has been challenging yet so highly rewarding. I haven’t worked on too many long term projects previously, but this one has probably been my favourite thus far. Plus, the themes of Wartide are definitely something that works within my strengths as an artist but also helps improve my weaknesses.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE ABOUT YOURSELF OR YOUR ART?
What I create is based on a past that never existed, and a
future that will never be. It comes down to pure imagination,
creating both the ridiculous and the sublime.
I may not have the tools to destroy the horrors of today's world. But I am sure I have the tools to try and lift the spirits of those around me. If my “silly cogs & gears” can make one person laugh or smile then these “creations” have been worthwhile!
Want to see more Art from Danyon? Check out his Social Media here!