"As an illustrator, I'm a bit like a clothes designer. I have to both fit and embellish the form I'm presented with. My fabric is limited only by imagination and the quality of my skills as an artist."
(Alan Daniel quoted in a pamphlet entitled Illuminations. Organized and circulated by the Gallery/Stratford. Unpaged.)
Alan Daniel spent much of his childhood studying paintings in art galleries and drawing his own pictures, but it was not until 1960 when he visited an illustrator's studio that art became more than a hobby. He began his career drafting maps and diagrams, at the same time honing his drawing and painting skills. His early watercolours were regularly featured in educational books and he has since moved into the field of children's literature. Today, he is a freelance artist whose illustrations appear in art galleries and private collections, in books and magazines, and on dustjackets and posters. A great deal of research goes into Alan Daniel's illustrations -- libraries, museums, and other resources, including the author, are consulted -- to ensure that the details of his paintings accurately reflect the story. For The Story of Canada, an award-winning chronicle of Canada's history, Alan Daniel consulted with authors Janet Lunn and Christopher Moore to determine which stories would best be brought to life through paintings. The period and tone of the story dictate his medium; his portfolio includes pen and ink drawings, paintings in oils and acrylic, as well as collages of cloth, clay, coloured paper, and string. Alan Daniel does a number of rough sketches before starting to paint, preferring to view his subjects from many angles. Many of his paintings are collaborative efforts -- he does the drawing while his wife Lea, who is also an illustrator -- does the painting.
Awards
 1992 | Municipal Chapter of Toronto IODE Book Award for The Story of Canada. |
Selected Bibliography
Books for Children
The Baitchopper. Written by Silver Donald Cameron; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: J. Lorimer, 1982.
167 p.: ill.; 21 cm. (The Adventure in Canada Series)
ISBN 0888625987 (pbk.)
ISBN 0888625995 (bound)
Les Bêtes étonnantes du temps des dinosaures. Written by Erna Dirks Rowe; translated by Christiane Duchesne; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic-TAB Publications, 1981.
32 p.: col. ill.; 19 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0590710516
(French edition of Strange Creatures from the Time of the Dinosaurs)
Big David, Little David. Written by S.E. Hinton; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Doubleday Books for Young Readers, 1995.
32 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 29 cm.
ISBN 0385310935
Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery. Written by Deborah and James Howe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Atheneum, 1979.
xii, 98 p.: ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0689307004
Bunnicula Fun Book. Written by James Howe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Morrow Junior Books, c1993.
164 p.: ill. (some col.); 23 cm.
ISBN 0688119522 (pbk.)
Dog Power Tower. Written by Beverley Allinson, and Barbara O'Kelly with Judith Lawrence; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Agincourt, Ontario: Methuen, 1977.
32 p.: col. ill.; 18 x 26 cm. (A Mr. Dressup Book)
ISBN 0458930504 (bound)
ISBN 0458930601 (pbk.)
Flying And Swimming Creatures from the Time of the Dinosaurs. Written by Erna Dirks Rowe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: North Winds Press, 1980.
303 p.: col. ill.; 22 x 26 cm.
ISBN 0590710494 (bound)
ISBN 0590710508 (pbk.)
Good Families Don't. Written by Robert Munsch; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: Doubleday Canada, c1990.
32 p.: col. ill.; 21 cm.
ISBN 0385252676
The Grand Escape. Wrtten by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Atheneum; Toronto: Maxwell MacMillan Canada, c1993.
148 p.: ill.; 22 cm.
ISBN 0689317220
Harold & Chester in Rabbit-Cadabra! Written by James Howe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Morrow Junior Books, c1993.
48 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 0688104029 (trade)
ISBN 0688104037 (library)
A Horse for Running Buffalo. Written by Madeline Freeman; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic-Tab Publications, 1974, c1972.
vii, 88 p.: ill.; 19 cm.
The Magician's Trap. Written by Eileen Piper; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic Canada, 1990, c1976.
62 p.: ill.; 20 cm.
ISBN 059073640X
Mots à découvrir: le français par les idées, cycle primaire. Written by Patrick Drysdale; translated by Doreen Beddard; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: Gage, 1980.
180 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 0771523483
(French edition of Words to Use: A Primary Thesaurus)
Mr. Peeknuff's Tiny People. Written by Donna Hill; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Atheneum, 1981.
32 p.: col. ill.; 26 cm.
ISBN 0689307780
The Orchestra. Written by Mark Rubin; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: A Groundwood Book, Douglas & McIntyre, c1984.
44 p.: ill. (some col.); 25 cm.
ISBN 088899009X
ISBN 0888990510 (pbk.)
Le Piège du magicien. Written by Eileen Piper; translated by Christiane Duchesne; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scholastic Canada, 1990, c1984.
60 p.: ill.; 20 cm.
ISBN 0590736418
(French edition of The Magician's Trap)
Return to Howliday Inn. Written by James Howe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Avon Books, 1993, c1992.
116 p.: ill.; 20 cm. (An Avon Camelot Book)
ISBN 038071972X
Sody Salleratus. Written by Aubrey Davis; illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel. Toronto: Kids Can Press, 1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm.
ISBN 1550742817 (bound)
The Story of Canada. Written by Janet Lunn and Christopher Moore; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New edition. Toronto: Lester Publishing: Key Porter Books, 1996, c1992.
319 p.: ill. (some col.); 28 cm.
ISBN 1895555884 (pbk.)
ISBN 1895555329 (bound)
Strange Creatures from the Time of the Dinosaurs. Written by Erna Dirks Rowe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Scolastic-TAB Publications, 1981.
32 p.: col. ill.; 19 x 22 cm.
ISBN 0590711229
(Previously published as Flying and Swimming Creatures from the Time of the Dinosaurs)
This Big Cat and Other Cats I've Known. Written by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers; illustrated by Alan Daniel. New York: Crown Publishers, c1985.
29 p.: ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 0517555387
Tout ça pour du soda! Written by Aubrey Davis; translated by Michel Bourque; illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel. Richmond Hill, Ont.: Éditions Scholastic, c1996.
32 p.: col. ill.; 29 cm.
ISBN 0590160427
(French edition of Sody Salleratus)
Writing Your Best Picture Book Ever. Written by Kathy Stinson; illustrated by Alan and Lea Daniel. Markham, Ont.: Pembroke Publishers, c1994.
31 p.: col. ill.; 24 cm.
ISBN 1551380285
Books for Adults
The Difficulty of Living on Other Planets. Poems by Dennis Lee; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: Macmillan of Canada, c1987.
112 p: ill.; 19 cm.
ISBN 077159898X
In Prais of Cats: An Anthology. Compiled by Dorothy Foster; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Don Mills, Ont.: Musson Book Company, 1982, c1974.
xi, 129 p.: ill.; 25 cm.
ISBN 077371054X
The Warmth of Christmas. Written by Terry Rowe; illustrated by Alan Daniel. Toronto: Lester and Orpen; Tennersville, Pa.: Tandem Press, c1973.
32 p.: ill.; 14 x 20 cm.
ISBN 0919630529
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