About Darnel Tasker
Darnel Tasker is an illustrator based in San Francisco, California. Darnel attended City College of San Francisco and The Art Institute of California, obtaining a bachelors of Science in Media Arts and Animation. From restaurants, to classrooms, to studying flying trapeze, Darnel has wide range of experience.
Everyday for the past 3 years, Darnel continues to do a drawing of the day to dedicate time to draw and explore her imagination and creativity. Starting in 2011, Darnell now has over 1000 drawings. With the help of kickstarter, she has compiled them together and create an artbook with the images.
Darnel also hosted a monthly figure drawing event, MotoSketch, that she started at Tosca Cafe in North Beach, where they get a live model to pose on a motorcycle that is generously donated by Mission Motorcycles. Moto Sketch had to end in February of 2013 due to new ownership of the bar, but will be relaunched Oct 28, 2014 at a new location.
Darnel now shows her work in galleries and participating in markets where she sells her art. This upcoming October she will be participating in the Alternative Press Expo (APE) in San Francisco.
Check out her upcoming show in NY, October 9th, The Pancakes & Booze Art Show!
Darnel Tasker, Illustrator
When you were a kid, what did you want to be?
I wanted to be an artist or an inventor.
What sparked your interest in art?
My father is an artist and he always nurtured the creativity in me.
How would you say moving to California influenced your style?
Moving to Cali influenced my style by brightening it up. When I was in NY my work tended to be very dark ( I was in my adolescence) When I moved at here I really found my love for figure drawing. My motivation moving out here was to create for children. With the combination for my love for kids and art and following my dream, I think they all influenced my work. Not to mention the colorful cast of characters that make up San Francisco.
I also have spent too many years working in the restaurant business where I have come across many different walks of life. These characters have influenced my work in a big way.
You move from Freelance Muralist, Illustrator, Graphic Designer, and teacher, How does your approach to either differ?
I approach all different forms with an artist eye. The most important factor is what the client wants and then I go from there. My degree in media arts and animation helped me find a balance in the world of fine art and commercial art. Although, my first love is fine art, I have a good understand of the commercial world.
Which would you say you enjoy the most and why?
I approach all different forms with an artist eye. The most important factor is what the client wants and then I go from there. My degree in media arts and animation helped me find a balance in the world of fine art and commercial art. Although, my first love is fine art, I have a good understand of the commercial world.
With Kickstarter your book 365 Days will shortly be printed how was the process?
My kickstarter was funded and completed in 2011. It was a lot of work. From creating my campaign, to doing the layout of my book. I was a one woman team. It was a great success and a great learning experience.
You say you stay focused with yoga, martial arts, and meditation, do you think this affects your work?
I do think yoga, martial arts and meditation affect my art. I think the greatest way that it they do is through discipline.
What inspired you to create MotoSketch?
I worked at Tosca for years ( before it went under new ownership 🙁 ) and we were brainstorming an event. I came up with the idea of having a model pose on a motorcycle. My boss said, ok go ahead and do it. It was a great run and a great event in the drawing community. I am proud to say that we should be starting up again this October in a new location.
How did you come up with the idea for your characters?
My characters really come through me, almost like a meditation and sometimes they are influenced by people that I see throughout my day while I am out and about doing my thing.
Where do you see your career 5, 10 years from now?
I would like to see my art career in 5 years completely sustaining my income and having my work out there that people know who I am. I would also like to have people start collecting my works. I have a lot of work that I am starting to show in galleries and I would like it for people to start collecting. I also have a story that I am working on that I would like to see as a success in the next 5 years. ( it is a huge idea, that involves tv show/movie) 10 years continuing to create and have people collecting my work. Continue telling stories through my characters.
How has becoming an art teacher change the way you pursue your art?
I have found that when I teach the most important thing is not teaching technique, but teaching the students to be themselves and allow whatever it is inside that wants to come out to allow it to flow. Technique will always be there, but our voice on paper is what is most important.
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