Rising Stars: Meet Daniel Miyares

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Miyares. 

Hi Daniel, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I studied at Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, FL. After graduating with a BFA in illustration in 2002, I was offered a job at Hallmark Cards, Inc. as an artist. So off I went to Kansas City! While working as an artist at Hallmark I also began taking on a variety of freelance illustration jobs. One of those jobs was with The Kansas City Star. I got to illustrate a series of serial stories that were published one chapter at a time in the Sunday paper. I did that for four years while learning and growing as an artist and product designer at Hallmark. In 2008 my daughter was born six weeks early. She was in the NICU for a bit. I sat by her isolette at night. I didn’t know what to do so I read stacks of picture books to her. I’m not sure she could even hear me through the plastic, but it felt like a way to connect and let her know that she wasn’t alone. It was in the middle of one of those nights that I started to think that maybe I should use my art to help people connect like I was trying to with my newborn daughter? After that, I decided to take my friend up on his offer to introduce me to a children’s book agent that he worked with. It was Studio Goodwin Sturges. Since 2010 I’ve been making picture books as an author and illustrator. It was only this past year, Feb. 2o2o, that I left Hallmark to make picture books full-time. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I wish I could say my path has been a smooth and straight one. Setting goals and envisioning what a next step could look like was never really difficult. Really the most difficult thing was always how to make things happen, and that was just the problem. Over the years I’ve learned I can’t make things happen at all. Committing to my craft and keeping my eyes and ears open for opportunities that line up with my goals is the simplest and best thing I can do. I’ve had to learn that force-fitting new career opportunities usually doesn’t yield the results I hope they would. The thing I love about being an author and illustrator is that the work speaks for itself even when you’re not there. Trusting that things will come of the hard work you put in is daunting sometimes, but really it takes just one small crack to open a new door. I’ve been thankful for those moments when they come. 

Right after I went out on my own full-time for the first time in Feb. 2020 Covid changed everything a few weeks later. There was so much uncertainty in the world at large but also in my industry. Schools were closed so school author visits were not possible, live book events disappeared, and my two kiddos were home for virtual class all day every day. This was really just my version of the same scenario that was playing out for so many people across the globe. It was extremely difficult to rebuild how I did my work. I am very thankful that I had plenty of scheduled projects at that point to get me through. Everyone was just trying to figure out how to get by. Everything still feels like a bit of anxiety-inducing improve, but at least we have over a year and a half of experience under our belts. I’ve already seen a tremendous amount of innovation and adapting happening in my own process – really out of necessity. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an author and illustrator of books for children. On my website, I refer to myself as a paper boat captain and picture bookmaker. Writing and illustrating for a young audience is a very hopeful and imaginative pursuit, which I love. A lot of my stories have involved an adventure or journey of some kind. Also, I often seem to focus on the small and seemingly inconsequential moments of life and try to find the greater meaning or significance in them. Things like play and discovery are important to me. 

I’m proud of all the projects I’ve had the good fortune to make. It’s great fun to get to craft stories and paint illustrations, but it’s the greatest fun to get to share those stories with young readers. 

As for what sets me apart, I would rather other people decide that sort of thing. My hope is that my work speaks to my love of storytelling and my desire to encourage others on their journeys. 

How do you think about luck?
I absolutely have a lot to be thankful for: my wife, two beautiful children, a rascal of a dog, the career opportunities I’ve had, my health. 

I’ve had setbacks for sure along the way. I’ve had plenty of doors closed in my face, but truly I know I don’t deserve all the generous and kind support I’ve received from friends, mentors, clients, patrons. It’s hard to believe that one thing builds on another, but it certainly does. I had a friend recommend me and my work for a freelance job that went on to be a catalyst for my new career path of making books. I couldn’t have scripted it, but I’m so glad it played out that way. 

Luck is a big deal, but not bigger than being prepared I’ve found. 

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: http://www.danielmiyares.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielmiyaresdoodles/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daniel.miyares.1/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/danielmiyares

Image Credits
Daniel Miyares
Anne Schwartz Books