Back in 2007, Daniel Champion sold everything he owned – bar a few personal items – in order to pursue his dream of living in New York City. Having spent years trying to find his place in the world, Champion knew this trip would be a welcome change-of-scene, as well a source of inspiration. “I knew I was going out there to create something,” he says. “That’s all I knew.”
Champion (born Daniel James Champion) was born in 1982 to parents Colin and Jan. He grew up with his older sister Emma, and later, younger brothers Terry and Jon. Champion was never a big reader, but found himself consistently drawn to art of a more visual nature. “I sometimes stare at things for far too long… art, people, colours, movement,” he observes. “I can all too easily find myself lost in my own brain.”
His strongest pursuits in school were art and photography, and later, he went on to study for a degree in architecture. In spite of deciding that university life wasn’t for him, it was an influential time in Champion’s life which forced him to really ask himself what he wanted in life. Having met some fellow students from the US, the seeds of ambition and fate were sewn.
Champion lived and worked in New York City for a few months. Evidently, that short space of time was all it took to inspire a body of work that is about to change his life.
“I took pictures and made sketches,” he says. “I didn’t know what any of it was for, just that I would use them for… something.” That something has emerged in the form of a complex, dark, and truly fascinating planned series of graphic storybooks entitled Wings. “Wings is… every creative idea I’ve ever had worth sharing,” Champion explains. “It’s a story about finding the perfect version of yourself.”
Pitched as a fairytale for adults, Wings tells the story of an Angel Princess whose wings are brutally detached and stolen, and the impact that has on the unlikely band of characters whose lives become inextricably intertwined by the event. “The layers of story in my mind are endless,” says Champion of his work. “The trick is getting it right for other people to see… doing it justice.”
Champion plans to tell his story using a nonlinear narrative – the first book of which will be Chapter Two. “The best place to start this story was with the character I have most in common with. Superhero struggles with the biggest part of her life being a secret. My secret was this story.”
Champion has a different illustrative style in mind for each of his characters, tailoring the visuals to suit each protagonist’s persona. “I’d like to try and tell the story… of the story,” he muses, with a degree of ambiguity. This first story in Champion’s twisted tale follows the mysterious “Superhero” on a typical night in the city which takes an unexpected turn.
The level of exquisite detail in the illustrations is astonishing. He has cleverly utilised digital technology to integrate the photographs he took during his time in New York into the backgrounds of each original image. This gives his work a uniquely personal touch, and serves as delicious insider-fodder for potential fan boys. Champion conveys the emotion of the scene using colour, light and shadow. Superhero’s signature red is present when she is at her most self-assured; from a psychological perspective, red is traditionally symbolic of confidence and power, which is indicative of Champion’s pensive approach to the material.
A promising debut.
Emma Champion caught up with the talented Wings creator to talk New York, art and self-publication…
Tell me about New York. My spiritual home – my pallet. New York is almost a ‘make-believe’ place, where you can be whoever you want to be… and people will accept you. There’s an amazing sense of togetherness… we’re all here together and it’s fine. A truly creative space and it’s in my blood forever now.
It’s clear that the city had an adverse effect on you. What else inspires you? Potentially anything?! Music – Dave Matthews…well played instruments and lyrics – good lyrics. Amy Winehouse, Frank Miller, Tarantino, Shakespeare, Turner, Degas, Lost, smoking, whisky, my family, a sense of pride, my own emotions (which are extreme). I have a favourite tree…?!
Which graphic novels do you admire? I’m not a ‘text book’ comic book collector, I have always had an interest in the artwork but, never really collected comic books… only kept hold of images, artwork and anything that found its way into my hands. That said, I really love Civil War, truly brilliant story and artwork.
Self publication is very much en vogue at the moment. What made you decide to take that route? I wanted to ‘own myself’ and be in control. I will never compromise my vision for this story.
What are the benefits of self publication compared to pitching to an established publisher? Owning the right to tell the story as it should be told… I guess.
Where did you get the idea for Wings? It started as a story called A Pirate and a Cowboy, in 2004, when I was living in Beckenham in Kent. It evolved in my mind over years and never went away.
I guess the idea stemmed from all the different parts of me… and all the different parts of my ideal woman. It’s heavily influenced by the things I love and… as most of the story was written in New York, I guess the people around me at the time had an effect on me too. My ideas come from songs, feelings, people, conversations, dreams… I really listen to my own thoughts.
I get the impression that Superhero is a character who has really gotten under your skin… Yes – I’ve got a lot in common with Superhero. I see her as a female version of me.
What can we expect from future instalments in the series? Something different every time hopefully, a visual feast and, bit-by-bit, a revealing story which WILL make sense to the reader one day… I hope.
Chapter Two of Wings is available to buy now from www.authorhouse.co.uk
For this author and many more, visit www.chicklit.co.uk
Image sourced at:
http://science-fiction-books.com.au/media/ccp0/prodlg/Wings-Chapter-2-Superhero-Daniel-Ch18-med.jpg
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