PROBE

Danny Valentini,
More than a con artist
by Chuck Shandry

At the anime conventions I attend, there always seems to be a few perminant things -- cosplay, dealer's room and artist's alley -- and in the artist's alley is another seemingly permenent fixture, Danny Valentini.

Based in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Danny brings his graphic talents to venues such as Otakon and Katsucon, two of many anime conventions that seem to be sprouting like weeds (one's weed is another's flower or salad).

I contacted Danny and he agreed to do an interview via e-mail.

Chuck: First off, how long have you been a working artist?

Danny: Depends on your definition of "working," really. I've been drawing as a hobby since 1995, and it was rather out of necessity. I'd started out as a writer and tried to bring various artists on board to illustrate some creations of mine, but the artists would either decide not to do it or they'd disappear off the face of the earth, and none of the projects would come to fruition.

During that time, I would often whip out my favorite comics and trace my favorite characters. Eventually, however, I got frustrated with this, because I started wanting to draw these characters in poses that weren't available in the books. So I decided to make my own poses.

And so it came that late one night, during spring break in my sophomore year of high school, I decided to put pencil to paper and see what I could do. And a sweet addiction was then born.

Now, as for the "gainfully employed" definition of "working," I began selling my work at conventions at Otakon in August of 1998.

Chuck: What artist influenced you or inspired you?

Danny: Anyone who knows me well knows this story. I owe a great deal of my influence and inspiration, both directly and indirectly, to Fred Perry of "Gold Digger" fame.

One of the key moments that sparked my interest in drawing was at the very first Katsucon back in February of 1995. A couple years before, I'd happened upon "Gold Digger" and found myself absolutely entranced by the artwork. Fred became somewhat of a hero of mine, and I jumped at the chance to meet him in person when Katsucon rolled around. I lingered around his table for several hours, watching him work, observing his techniques, asking questions, and being a general nuisance overall. He didn't seem to mind too much, though. This encounter, and the knowledge I gained from it, gave my creative side a major jolt.

Early on, I patterned my style closely to Fred's, mixed in with some elements from Rumiko Takahashi's style, particularly in the "Ranma 1/2" series. Soon thereafter, though, I decided to stop focusing so much on mimicking their work and to try to steer my style the way I wanted it to go.

Eventually, I developed what I believe is a fairly unique style, although now, more people than ever say that my work resembles Fred's. It may have been intentional at the very beginning, but any similarities today are purely coincidental, I assure you.

And, I should add, having my work compared to Fred's is always very, very flattering!

I should also give an honorable mention to Thor Thorvaldson Jr. Many folks have noticed my rather thick outlines, which I consider to be somewhat of a distinguishing characteristic. I got that from Thor's style, and I've even nicknamed the technique "Thoring" in his honor

Chuck: Your web site, www.2wcOnline.com, how long has it been running?

Danny: 2wcOnline.com's origins can be traced back to 1999, when it was a small site on Angelfire. In 2000, my brother gave me my own dot com as a Christmas gift, and that's when 2wcOnline.com came to life. It's still pretty small today, but eventually, we'll offer all our products with online purchasing power, and showcase more of my artwork. I've toyed with the idea of an online comic for a while now. Maybe I'll get to it one day.

The name "2wc," by the way, is a nickname for Wacky Warm-Ups Creativity Services, the company I do business as: "2wc" was catchier and easier to say.

Chuck: You seem to specialize in anthropomorphic characters (giving animals human characteristics). Any particular reason?

Danny: I do specialize in anthropomorphic artwork, but I like to do it with a strong manga flavor.

I've always had a penchant for furries. Human beings are cool, but they really only come in so many varieties. When you throw animals into the mix, you get a lot more exotic possibilities.

My tastes run toward foxes, cats, and dragons. Basically, if you can take an animal most people don't immediately think of and you can make it look good, it draws attention. I hadn't really seen too many sexy dragon-girls prior to the debut of the Draconia Calendar Series back in 1999, and they still turn heads today. Something about a girl with wings, horns, a tail and scales that you just can't get out of a human.

Chuck: You seem to have been at nearly every Otakon and
Katsucon. What attracted you to anime conventions, and
how different are the various conventions?

Danny: Not quite every Otakon, actually. I only started attending Otakon in 1998 and have been at each one since. Katsucon, on the other hand, I've attended since the first one back in 1995, and I've had perfect attendance there.

I first started noticing convention ads in comic books in about 1994, but figured that they only came to big cities like Dallas and San Diego. When I noticed that Katsucon was to be held right here in Virginia Beach that year, I was sold.

Since then, I've attended over 30 anime conventions. To be perfectly honest, it doesn't take all that long to realize that virtually all anime conventions are about the same, with only the name and the location changing. The people make the difference, though, since a lot of people only attend that one particular convention every year.

Yeah, I go to conventions to sell my artwork and to draw for the fans, but more than anything, I love meeting people.

Chuck: Name some artistic influnces.

Danny: Fred Perry, Rumiko Takahashi, Ronzo Murphy, Leo Saunders, Thor Thorvaldson, Jr.

Chuck: What are some of your upcoming projects?

Danny: September 2003, we're planning to release the eagerly-anticipated 2004 Draconia Calendar, the fifth installment of the highly successful Draconia Calendar Series. We're also planning a new portfolio and a new series of mouse pads, all centering around some of the characters from Draconia.

I'm also the staff artist for NekoCon, a convention here in Virginia Beach, so I've got a bunch of artwork to do for their badges and program books and T-shirts and what-not.

Chuck: Do you have any favorite comics/manga/anime? Why do you like them?

Danny: Actually, I don't get around to watching all that much anime. I'm often too busy to sit down and watch an appreciable amount of anime. I read manga more than anything, and I like 'em better, because they cost less and I love gazing at the amazing artwork and storytelling. Some of my favorite series include "Ranma 1/2," "Oh My Goddess," "Gunsmith Cats," and "Drakuun." I still pick up an issue of "Gold Digger" every now and then.

Chuck: What is/are your favorite original character/s in your art?

Danny: One of my favorite originals is Sombrana, a dragon-girl from the Draconia Calendar Series. She's very stubborn and brash, and that often gets her in very deep trouble. Draconia's head writer, Donnie Sturges, and I love coming up with new ways to put her in hot water.

My overall favorite character right now, though, is Red, another dragon-girl. I've always had a weakness for girls with braided hair, especially cornrows. Those long, cascading braids of hers hypnotize me.

Chuck: Which anime character would you most like to have a conversation with?

Danny: And finally, if I could meet any anime character, one on one... hmmm... I'd have to admit that I'm still a little smitten by Ami Mizuno, otherwise known as Sailor Mercury. All sweet and ladylike, intelligent and attractive, and you're certain that there's a wild child inside who likes to make her presence felt on occasion. She's the kind, I feel, that I could sit down and talk to for hours on end. I like good conversationalists.

Chuck: And finally, what do you have on your work desk right now?

Danny: Right now, I'm looking at a couple unfinished drawings -- I swear I'm working on 'em, guys, and you all know who you are!