We recently connected with Daniel Clark and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniel, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

Listen. Being a true-blue, real-life, full-time working artist is an absolute dream. Honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else… well maybe being one of those people that rolls pandas around and keeps them from falling off of stuff… But getting there is anything but a straight line.

I’ve loved drawing ever since I could hold a pencil, but I didn’t decide I wanted to become an artist until I graduated high school. Even then I don’t think I appreciated what a broad term the word “artist” is. I had vague ideas of having my work up in galleries, rubbing shoulders with bougie strangers, becoming loved and admired for my amazing works of art! My wonderful mother did the best she could to steer me towards a career as a graphic designer, or an art therapist, or some other sort well paying reliable job. However, this was a journey I needed to go on myself. Needless to say I eventually got to where my mom was trying to get me to the whole time.

I went to school to study Fine Art, and while I was there I took a class to learn Photoshop and Illustrator. It was in that class I found two of the loves of my life. My eventual wife Anna, and digital art. The next few years were an absolute whirlwind. I simultaneously got my major in both Fine Art and Graphic Design, Anna and I got hitched, found jobs, had kids, did the things people do! But during that whole time while life happened, I found myself struggling.

I was a full-time artist, working at some really great ad agencies, with really fun people! I worked on everything from social media campaigns, to building brands, traveling to photoshoots, art directing commercials, and all sorts of stuff! You know just like a really solid normal graphic design career. But I was still struggling with who I was as an artist, and not feeling like I was living up to the version of myself that the 18 year old me imagined. Then about 8 years ago Anna and I started working together and formed our own little studio called Pretend Friends.

We’ve had a lot of amazing opportunities as Pretend Friends. Our very first job was to illustrate dozens of murals for a children’s hospital in Buffalo, New York. OUR FIRST JOB! And since then we spent the years working in publishing, and branding, and just having a blast creating beautiful work together. But I still had that nagging inadequate feeling.

Then during 2020 the advertising agency I worked at started an in-house video production team and animating went from my side hustle, to my main hustle. I never really thought of myself as a motion designer, or an illustrator, or a graphic designer. I had always just been a bit of a generalist. But there was something empowering in finally declaring myself as a motion designer! It was the same feeling I got back in that Photoshop class, it felt like I had re-found my purpose. But dang-it if I didn’t still feel like I was missing something… I promise we are almost there!

Okay so last year, after a lot of soul searching I had an epiphany. I had been so worried about being this imaginary better version of myself, but I’ll never be the best illustrator or the best motion designer. But I could be the best me! Then this year I decided to start all over again. I erased every social post I had ever made, completely revamped my website, and rebranded myself. My moniker had always been “iamdanielclark” but now I can finally say I AM Daniel Clark. Its been so freeing making the art I want to make. Creating the content I want to create. I’ve never been more motivated!

Daniel, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

To my followers… I want them to feel like they are a part of a community. I want to make them laugh, I want to help them grow, but most of all I just want them to know that we all have a lot of the same shared experiences, and we can all learn from each other. Working as an artist can be a very solitary experience, so I think its important for us to build connections where we can.

To my clients I want them to know I see them as people. One of my favorite parts of the job is seeing the client’s face or reading their messages where they are so excited to see their ideas come to life. I try to never take for granted the trust they put in me with their reputations, their image, and yes even their money.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Right now I am trying to be my best me. Being creative has just become a part of my DNA. If I’m not making art, then I am thinking about making art. And I want to harness that motivation while I can.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Its has really been a mixed bag. Some clients have seen my work on instagram, some I reached out to personally because I wanted to work with them. So far though I think word of mouth has gotten me more work than anything.

I owe a lot of my freelance career to a guy I was on drum-line with in high school! Other jobs I’ve gotten from people who I worked with at past agencies, or who needed an animator and got my name from one of their friends. What I think has been just as important though, is that almost all of my clients keep returning.

Its super important to me to build a really good, trusting relationship with my clients. Not just because I want them to keep hiring me, but also because the thought of disappointing someone makes me feel physically ill haha.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://iamdanielclark.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamdanielclark
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-clark-44925666/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@iamdanielclark