Dan ‘Adonihs’ Luvisi Art

I’ve been following Dan’s work for literally years, and this guy has the heart and determination of a lion. Like me, he never had any formal education past High School, and is entirely self taught, which goes to show that education doesn’t do anything if you dont have the drive and ambition to back it. But one thing that I really like is a recent journal he wrote on his blog, saying:

“Today I woke up to something I’ve been working all my life to see. I was fortunate enough to get to see one of the models being made for one of the creatures I designed for Your Highness. It’s all lead up to this moment, from the time I was 3 I’ve wanted to work in the art business. Yes, at my little young age, barely able to do anything, I knew I’d draw for the rest of my life.

I never went to art school, never took any art classes (other than crappy HS ones) and I had to self teach myself and bust my ass off after High School because I couldn’t afford college.

I spent every day and night, from the day I got out of High School working and working. I closed myself off to a lot of people, which sometimes I regret, to get to where I wanted to be. Thankfully I had a girlfriend so understanding and that always believed in me, to aid my side. But literally, every day I drew and I told myself:

Three things you will need to achieve:

Work for or with ILM/WETA/PIXAR sometime in your life.

Create a graphic novel/comic book.

Work on films before you turn 25.

And I always lived by that code: Sleep is for the weak, while others rest you’re catching up. And I never looked back.

A lot of people doubted what I did, very few believed I’d take it to where I was going to.

But days like this, now at 23, prove that its possible as long as you want it. You have to prove to YOURSELF that you want it, and you can’t wait for others to hand feed it to you. It will never work that way.

Motivation. Dedication. Inspiration. Little Dr.Seuss, but it goes a long way. I didn’t always have this talent, if I would have just considered art “A hobby” I wouldn’t be where I was now.

Waking up and seeing my design CREATED into a sculpture and eventually into a full on creature in the movie, really gives me the chills. All the pain, sweat, late hours and so forth were worth it. I wouldn’t take it back for anything. I feel very blessed for this, the people who supported me and especially all of you guys for the dedication and trust you’ve put into my work.

A lot of people will tell you “You can’t do it.”

Tell them to shut the F up and do it, you owe yourself that.

Back to work..”.

Well said Dan, well said.