How/where do you find your inspiration?

---

Inspiration could come from anywhere. However I do not believe in its spontaneous arrival, as work methodology, inspiration and creativity come from the hand of hard work, practice, and perseverance. 

What things do you do when you face a creative block?

---

Personally, I think there are only three things to solve for a block:

1. Clear your mind. Stop what you’re trying to do and go for a walk, laugh, distract yourself.
2. Rethink the problem and study if there is any other way to solve it beyond the first thing that comes to mind, as a quick solution. There is always much that we do not see and solutions that we can not imagine. Have you tried to ask someone else how they look at the problem from their perspective? 

3. Take up some methodology and try again leaving your comfort zone. Part of the work of designers is to constantly reinvent ourselves.  
   
   

What are mistakes/lessons you’ve encountered as a beginner and have learned from?

---

Probably the most important lesson I have learned over the last 23 years is that everything takes time. It’s not necessary, nor recommended to accelerate anything. The effort in hours is noticeable and you do not have to wait for others to notice it. The time you invest should be dedicated to every detail the effort requires to realize something much greater.

What are your best tips/tricks when working with CorelDRAW?

---

1. You do not know as much as you think. Never think that you already know everything or that you could not learn more. CorelDRAW is such a complete tool that it’s almost impossible to finish learning it. Become the best user you can, which goes hand-in-hand with being a good designer.  
   
2.  Work with order. Learn to use layers, guides and styles. At first it may seem confusing or unnecessary, but when you realize that with one click you can rethink all the content of the file, it will have been worth it. 
   
3. Try all the drawing tools. The style you print in your works will be a consequence of the conjunction between your talent and your handling of the tools. Each one offers you different possibilities. When I started, I was the #1 fan of the Bezier, however over the years I must confess that since the arrival of the B-spline to CorelDRAW in x4, I no longer use it because this tool gives me what I need. Now, the 2022 version is better than ever (soft and aesthetic organic curves, freehand with the same tool, and the ability to create tips and angles).
   
4. Always look for more than one way to reach the same result. CorelDRAW allows you to do it and mastering this possibility is an advantage.
   
5. Learn the names of tools, menus, windows, and effects by heart because that will allow you to find information properly on the internet if you need to learn something. In addition, knowing things by name will allow you to make yourself understood with other designers as you speak the same language as them.  
   
6. Never lose sight of the fact that CorelDRAW is a tool, perhaps the best on the market. Mastering it can easily get you noticed, as the brand recognizes the best users. You could be one of them! STRIVE.  

All artists in this series are customers of Alludo and use CorelDRAW.

---

A look at some of Daniel’s work with CorelDRAW: