Danielle Pioli — Brazilian Children's Book Illustrator

Brazilian illustrator Danielle Pioli works across editorial, advertising and comics, as well as illustrating a range of award-winning children’s books. Drawing on her background in animation and cartoons, she creates expressive dynamic characters and has a unique talent for pushing the emotion. Joy, mischief, anger, fear, fun – this is an artist who goes well beyond creating innocent little things. Her art captures how children feel and interact.

Based in São Paulo, Danielle trained in virtual design with a view to becoming an artist for animation, and her passion for cartoons and comics comes through in her work. However, she adapts her approach and ideas for each project, tuning her style into the brief and intended audience. In her personal work, she tends towards something more delicate and introspective. Clients love seeing their ideas come to life in Danielle’s unique drawings. They appreciate her flexibility, communication and adherence to deadlines. One of her biggest early influences was The Little Mermaid, and later Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network. Illustrators she loves include Bobby Chiu, Loish, Glenn and Claire Keane and Myazaki. She’s also inspired by feminism, social and racial justice, and veganism.

Approach

While Danielle enjoys using natural media, professionally she has always worked digitally, taking a quick, practical approach that begins with sketches on her iPad and Cintiq.

Key software

Procreate and Adobe Photoshop

Style

Danielle focuses on the fun, magic, whimsy and feeling of a piece. Her characters immediately catch the eye with their expressions, rendered in a playful, almost naïve hand. Colour palettes vary to support the mood of the story and the action.