Meet Daniela Dwek | Artist and Storyteller

We had the good fortune of connecting with Daniela Dwek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Daniela, how do you think about risk?
I think of risk as stepping outside of your comfort zone, an essential way to grow. I believe that the more we get used to taking risks, the more likely we are to reach our goals.

I had always been a very shy person, who hardly took risks because I did not think of the “what if it goes well”, but rather the “what if does not”.

When I graduated high school and moved to New York City for my college education, I was pushed out of my comfort zone. I could no longer rely on what I knew. Instead, I had to constantly take risks.

Being shy meant I was often the quiet person in a room. I started to challenge myself and speak up more. Every time I attended a panel or speaking event, I’d make sure to ask the panelists a question. Every time a teacher asked something and I knew the answer, I would make sure to speak. My risk-taking in these simple situations might seem minor, but they helped build my confidence for bigger risk-taking moments.

They enabled me to connect with others and inform my career. For instance, when it came to networking around me, I started to think: what if I don’t go to this event? What if I would miss my chance at meeting a potential friend or future colleague? So many times I’d think of giving up, but it only takes one second to take that extra step. In retrospect, those seconds were crucial to my growth and reaching my goals.

Another way in which I would take risks was that I’d reach out to artists I admired online and ask them for advice on my work. I’d often fear their rejection, but I always found that artists are always so kind and willing to help, and in turn, I was able to learn so much and advance my skills.

Taking risks allow us to see our full potential and that we can do anything we set our minds to. I believe this has helped me forge some great connections in the industry and helped me become a better, more confident version of myself. To this day, I still push myself to do things that would normally make me uncomfortable and I believe this has got me to where I am today.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Art to me is a form of self expression of the human experience that can help someone find their place in the world. Every piece of art an artist creates is them sharing a piece of themselves. I believe my art ranges from being a cathartic release of creativity to pieces I dedicate to others. I am a CG artist, more specifically, I focus on creating believable and appealing characters that people can relate to.

One thing I’m excited about in both my personal and professional work is making sure that the characters I create authentically represent the world as it is, as I believe that people need to see themselves on screen in order to make them feel like they belong. Art, to me, is such a powerful tool, and we must use it to do good and spread light in the world. I am proud that my senior thesis film “Hamsa” that I made along with a very talented team, has won many awards including a Student Academy Award, something I could have never imagined receiving. My goal with this film is to preach a message of peace and show the world that despite our differences, we are all human.

Getting to this point professionally and artistically however, was far from easy. It took a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. During my time in Art School, I felt that many didn’t understand my career path, as they could only see me ending up as a “starving artist”. However, being the first woman to go to college on my mother’s side meant a great deal to me, and I was committed to proving them wrong by showing them how artists are needed in this world.

I would work relentlessly to improve and hone my craft, constantly asking for advice and feedback along the way. When I felt negatively about my art, I tried to remind myself that every “mistake” or “ugly” piece I would produce is essentially an opportunity to learn. Even after getting rejection letters from the places I wanted to work at, I was determined not to give up, because trying was something I could control in the whole process, and if I didn’t try, it’s almost like I wouldn’t have even given myself a chance to succeed. Of course, that determination did not come on its own: having a community to share artwork with and collaborate was essential. I believe that one must remain humble and ready to learn from others, as well as share their knowledge and not be selfish with information they might have, because it is only when we help each other succeed that we can reach true success.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to the Bay Area, the first thing I’d do is rent a car so we can be sure to have a great time and explore all that the area has to offer.

The first day of her trip, I’d want to show her around where I live in Oakland. I’d take her to Lake Merritt, which is one of my favourite places to just hang out with some music.
We’d probably take it easy and walk around there, as well as Telegraph Avenue. There, I love to go to Beauty’s Bagels, Aunt Mary’s Cafe, as well as the best Mac n Cheese place called Homeroom, which is not too far away.

The next day, I’d start off by crossing the Bay Bridge, and I’d show her around San Francisco. SF is not the most walkable place because of its steep hills, but I’d park somewhere close to the Embarcadero and start there. We’d walk along it up to Pier 39, to see the famous Fisherman’s wharf, where we can watch the sea lions lie around and do their thing. We’d then explore the city by going to ChinaTown, Mission Dolores Park, the MET museum and the Golden Gate Park. Another day, we can head to the Coit Tower and watch the amazing view. Then, since we both like to ride bikes, we could rent a bike close by and ride it by the Presidio, all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge, and stop by the Palace of Fine Arts for a little break. We could even have a picnic at the Crissy Field, where we’d bring something tasty to eat.

Another day we could use the car and drive West to San Raphael on our way to Sausalito and take a few stops along the way. Sausalito is one of my favourite places. It’s such a cute town, with the most amazing view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge. Talking about the Bridge, this would be a perfect opportunity to drive over it and head towards San Francisco again. Once back in San Fran, since we’ve seen a lot of it on foot, we could just drive around and experience the hilly streets and perhaps the most famous of all, Lombard Street.

At this point, we might be wanting to see something different than the city and go for more nature, which California is known for. I’d take my friend to Berkeley so we can hike up the Big C near UC Berkeley and watch the beautiful sunset with the view of the whole bay– one of the most beautiful sights I’ve seen.

To keep the best part for last, we’d drive up to the Napa Valley, and stop in Sonoma on the way. Sonoma is probably one of my favourite places in the Bay Area. It’s so quaint and pretty to look at. One of my favourite things to do there is eat some ice cream from Sweet Scoops, where their ice cream is homemade and using local products. We’d walk in the park in the main square of Sonoma, and once we’re ready to go, we’d continue our ride up to Napa, where the scenery is really just breathtaking. Once we get to the Napa town, we’d just walk around and absorb its beauty. Once we feel ready to go home, we’d drive back, listening to some good music, and at this point I’d feel like I was able to show her quite a bit of the area. She’d probably need to come again so we can discover more of the area that I myself have not yet visited.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to all the SVA alumni who took a chance on me, let me work with them and answered all my questions since my freshman year. I’d also like to thank my professors and fellow students, who believed in me when I did not. It is your belief in me that kept me going. Last but not least, I’d like to thank my family, who have always encouraged me to pursue my dreams, no matter what they were.

Website: www.danimation.art

Instagram: mypassion4art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieladwek/

Other: https://vimeo.com/hamsathesis/ https://vimeo.com/danieladwek/

Image Credits
Chrisy Baek, Maya Mendonca, Michael Davin, Computer Arts Facility (SVA NYC)