But it's sure cosy
Night and day are the classic opposites, yet the two darker DM Collections capture quite different sides of the moonlit hours. The DM Nocturnal Collection illustrates a hedgehog, fox, cat and owl at a mysterious midnight, whilst the DM Twilight Collection shows the bunny, jaguar and bear in the soft light of dusk.
The night is seen as dangerous, the dark side to be battled against. Greek myth has the first goddess, Nyx or night, giving birth to all sorts of forces including light but also death, destruction, deceit. The black cat got an extremely bad reputation as a sinister being in the middles ages. Perhaps it is the moon's power - over the tides and even animal and our own behaviour - that contributes most to the sense of night as a dark, mysterious force.
This sense of ancient mystery is reflected in the deep black blues of the DM Nocturnal Collection's creatures, as they lurk in the moonlight's shadows. Yet, as we look closer, they mean us no harm.
In fact, those piercing looks are more redolent an incisive wisdom. Folklore and myth associate the night with being wise - from Japan's night fox growing nine tales to achieve enlightenment to the Greek goddess of wisdom's companion the night owl.
The gold flecked fur and warm pink highlights in the DM Nocturnal Collection elevate the designs to show us that the night is, more than anything, a beautiful time. This wonder and beauty is brought out in the softer DM Twilight Collection.
Capturing the time when it is not quite night but no longer day, Daniel's Twilight designs are filled with the glow of lamp light. L'heure bleue is a favourite of photographers and painters for its flattering 'sweet light'. It is when crepuscular creatures big and small can be seen emerging to forage, explore and avoid predators.
The almost cartoon-like illustration style of the Twilight Collection is comforting, reminiscent of snuggling up for bed time stories. Indeed, the three creatures are gently tumbling down into sleep through a fairy tale style woodland depicted within them. All three, the jaguar, the bear and the bunny, are stars of some of the most compelling folktales from around the world.
Two different sides of the night - both beautiful and full of wonder. Explore them for yourself!
Explore the DM Nocturnal Collection then peer into the DM Twilight Collection.