Daniel Sulzberg — Whimsical Character Illustrator, California

Based in Santa Barbara, California, Daniel Sulzberg’s work is infused with the diverse melting pot of laid back culture and creativity that his home state is famous for. It’s colorful, fun, positive, whimsical, detailed, and sometimes a bit zany. The characters effortlessly jump to life in his world he calls Danvillage.

COMIC BOOKS, NINTENDO GAMES, AND SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS... As a child of the 80's, this was Daniel's life! Daniel Sulzberg, Santa Barbara based illustrator still embodies this style. He is the artist behind Danvillage Studios. Danvillage Studios builds quirky, intricate universes for the likes of sports & music brands. The characters, locations, objects, visual language, maps, Easter eggs and mythology turn a one-off illustration into a powerful brand specific world. Former Smallville screenwriter, Pandemic Studios concept artist, and Red Bull Cartoon creative director, Daniel brings storytelling muscle to every brief. Whether it's a beer label, a trading-card universe, or a full brand mythology, if you are a client who needs characters with personality Danvillage Studios will deliver.

Approach

Dan’s process starts with loose sketching on paper as he plays with ideas for each piece. The sketches are refined and the composition is honed for a final drawing, which he’ll scan to colour with his iPad and Apple Pencil, before transferring it into Photoshop for the finishing touches.

Key Software

Photoshop

Style

Vivid color, positivity, surrealism and whimsy are all elements of Daniel’s style, which is heavily influenced by where he’s from – California. “The vibe of being relaxed, casual and yourself is a part of who I am and it definitely shows in my work,” he says.

Client list

Danvillage Studios' clients include The New York Times, Nike, Google, Facebook, Youtube, Red Bull, Major League Soccer, The Washington Post, Tottenham Hotspur, Topps, Sesame Street, and bands such as Khruangbin, the Grateful Dead, and Digable Planets.