Today we’d like to introduce you to Rafael Dante.
Rafael, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born in Brazil and grew up in Sao Paulo. Art has been my favorite thing to do since I was a kid when I started drawing superheroes on my books at school. I graduated in Design and Advertising and started my career when I was 19, working for advertising agencies. I moved to LA the first time in 2011 to work with games. I went back to Brazil and I ran my own illustration studio for a while, but I couldn’t stay away from Venice Beach anymore. So in 2015, I moved back to Los Angeles and here I am. I do art direction, graphics, and interactive design, 3d, illustrations, drawings, paintings.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I always wanted to be a comic book artist. But then I realized I was more into drawing the covers than the story itself. So I found the illustration world very interesting. I think because of my career in advertising, I’ve learned to be very versatile so I love trying different techniques, digital and traditional like watercolors, acrylics, pencils, markers, spray paint. And I also like to use wood, canvas, paper, and cardboard boxes. It’s fun to discover new shapes and textures. I think what’s really important if you want to be good at something is to be passionate about it. So, there’s no trick or magic behind it. It’s basically dedication and studies forever. 😀 I take inspiration from everywhere. For example, sometimes I’m watching a movie and I use random words from the dialogs just to compose one illustration.
What would you recommend to an artist new to the city, or to art, in terms of meeting and connecting with other artists and creatives?
It is a lonely activity, for sure. But it’s important to connect to people in general. Go to a bar, have a beer. Talk to people. Don’t be a weirdo. It’s really good to talk and show your stuff to people. You get their reactions, their preferences and that helps you to understand what you’re are doing and who you’re doing it for.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I’m always posting my stuff such as new art or events like art shows and exhibitions on my Instagram account and Facebook page. Follow me 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rafaeldante.com
- Email: rafadante@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rafaeldante/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rdantesart/
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