Danny O’Leary likes to let his sense of humour out and this is something evident in his work – particularly his funny portraits and slightly outrageous caricatures. And yet you’ll find hyper-realistic Photoshop illustrations right there alongside the more sketch-like artwork in his portfolio.
He believes his desire to poke fun at things comes from growing up in a large family, where sometimes you need a little good-natured teasing to get by. His family are a creative and musical bunch, and this is probably the root of his artistic talent. Like his style, Danny’s tastes are incredibly varied. He likes music ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Slayer; he enjoys being by the sea, in the woods and in the city too.
After 25 years in New York’s concrete jungle, he now lives on a lake in Northwest New Jersey. While only a car ride away from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan, he can work in a tranquil setting.
Training
After a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Paier College of Art in Connecticut, Danny moved to New York and continued his studies at The School of Visual Arts and The Art Students League. During this time he started getting illustration assignments, and portrait and landscape commissions, which he embraced working in a realist style.Approach
Today, Danny works entirely digitally. He still paints and draws for some of his fine art projects – his landscapes are oil and acrylic, for instance - but his illustrations are nearly always done on the computer.Styles
During his career, Danny has explored many styles and continues to do so. He hopes that clients will notice the variety within his portfolio. There are ultra-realistic photo-illustrations, while other work is practically scribbles. He likes to mix it up and is nothing if not versatile.Client list
Random House Penguin Group HarperCollins Dorchester Publishing St Martin's Press Harlequin Enterprises Hachette Book Group Scholastic
Danny was delightful to work with, quickly understanding what we wanted to communicate and able to render images that were vivid and rich. I would certainly work with him again. 'James Patterson'
James Patterson #1 New York Times Best Selling Author, Little Brown and Company
I was a first-time author who had written a great story and wanted a beautiful cover to represent it.I stumbled upon Illustrationx.com and I’m so grateful I did.
The illustrator who most intrigued me was Danny O’Leary. I contacted Danny’s agent, Karen Kaller. She responded within fifteen minutes. All of Karen’s communication was professional and prompt. Danny is a delight to work with. Danny was patient with the process and accommodating with my ideas. He is very personable and professional. The end result was an incredible cover that captures the essence of my story.
Contrary to the saying, people do judge a book by its cover. In the world of self-publication, a professional cover design is essential. Let illustrationx.com wrap your story in art!
Martha Vaught, Martha Vaught/first-time author
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