Meet Daryl Slaton - "Creating digital art is amazing. There are so many colors, textures, patterns, and combinations to explore. It opens a new world of possibilities. If I can imagine it, I can create it." -Daryl    

DARYL SLATON studied art at University of North Carolina-Charlotte and moved into the world of corporate design and presentation shortly thereafter. 

In 1985, Daryl became a designer with Belk Stores Services, the corporate headquarters for the retailing giant. After creating art by hand for several years, he quickly embraced the new digital technologies becoming the first designer in the company to use a computer to create art and presentations.

Daryl accepted a position in 1994 with The Whitley Group, a multimedia company. There he created presentations, art, cartoon characters, and animations for many large corporations. Two years later, Daryl became the art director for the company.

In 1998, The Whitley Group became part of iXL, a large multimedia company that eventually had offices around the world. Continuing in his role as art director and designer, Daryl's client list included General Electric, Microsoft, IBM, Ford Motors, AT&T, Volvo, NationsBank, BellSouth, Lucent Technologies, Nortel, Komatsu, Unysis, J. Walter Thompson, and others.

In 2000, Daryl became a freelance designer and artist. Working with ad agencies and other specialists, he has been creating art, illustration, design, animation, and websites for clients such as Purina, State Farm, Staubach Properties, KPMG, Cigna, and others. Using the new digital design and animation technologies, Daryl created book illustrations and a 35-minute educational animated DVD supplement for McGraw-Hill Publishers.

In addition to creating art and cartoon characters for regional attractions such as Biltmore Estate, Ruby Falls, Rock City, and Chimney Rock Park, Daryl created a whimsical art print for the Asheville Humane Society in order to raise funds for a new shelter.

Daryl is now using digital art technology to specialize in decorative, whimsical art featuring animals for loving pet owners and anyone that enjoys colorful, capricious art. He is currently creating art for the SPCA in New Orleans, commissioned pet portraits, and a children's picture book. Daryl lives in Buncombe County and is proudly represented by WICKWIRE fine art/folk art in Hendersonville, North Carolina.