Crate and Barrel: Was there a pivotal moment in your life when you decided to do what you're doing today?
Daniel: I was living in Puerto Vallarta and there was a painting by a Spanish artist hanging on the stairs of my now then house. The painting gave me an intense, creepy feeling that helped me realize that one could generate strong emotions through images.
Crate and Barrel: What's your favorite room to retreat to and why?
Daniel: My living room is where I retreat to make music in my free time. I like how calm I feel after spending time playing music.
Crate and Barrel: What was the biggest challenge that you have faced on your creative journey?
Daniel: I struggle with internal insecurities of my own work, even now. I try to do my best, but sometimes there’s these thoughts of “you’re not good.” People’s comments can be harsh too, especially if you’re just starting out. here’s this general idea (for some) that art is like a “hobby” and it’s going to be hard to make a career out of it. I was even told once by the parents of a friend of mine that choosing this kind of career was a very bad decision in economic terms.
Crate and Barrel: If you could change one aspect of our society through your work, what would it be?
Daniel: To create a society in which there is respect for each other and nature, more now than ever.
Crate and Barrel: Who or what has inspired your design aesthetic?
Daniel: Moonassi: For the figurative work and how poetically charged they are.
Nick Cave: For the textures.
Laura Marling: For inspiration on emotions and strong feelings.
Henri Julien Félix Rousseau: For the representations of colors in nature.
Crate and Barrel: The two prints of yours that we’re bringing into our collection do have a wavy, dreamy look, but with really bold color. Was there any specific place or event that you were thinking about when making them?
Daniel: I was taking a different approach with my old work. Instead of focusing on figures I decided to only focus on the texture of the figures in my work. When I finished the first piece of this kind of new abstract approach, I felt it was powerful and compelling, so I decided to work more on this technique.
Crate and Barrel: Your childhood growing up in Mexico in a family of artists seems to have been a strong influence on your work. What are the characteristics of Guadalajara that shine through in your work?
Daniel: While growing up I was living in Puerto Vallarta and travelling a lot to Tenacatita Coast because my father was working in a hotel there. My brother and I were always exploring the natural surroundings, catching iguanas or fishing. After my grandfather died my family decided to move to Guadalajara. While I was living in Puerto Vallarta, I took a couple of children’s art courses, entered a kids art contest and won one of the first prizes—a child’s bike which was very exciting at that time.