Young Guns 19: Daukantė
By Alixandra Rutnik and Brett McKenzie on Oct 27, 2021
Featuring the creative stars of Young Guns 19
A year and a half of uncertainty across the creative industry and beyond has finally given way to a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel — a spotlight with a great big "YG19" standing in the middle of it. After more than 70 acclaimed creatives from around the world and across a multitude of disciplines reviewed hundreds of submissions, whittling them down to a formidable finalist list, we can finally reveal the phenomenal winners of Young Guns 19!
This year, we welcome a diverse class of 32 inductees into the exclusive Young Guns family, a collection of young creative talent that is already near the top of their game — and will only get better. These are the designers, the art directors, the illustrators, the filmmakers, the animators, the multidisciplinary artists whose names you'll want to know — if you aren't already following their every move, that is.
Ahead of the Young Guns 19 Ceremony + Party taking place on Wednesday, November 17 — our first in-person event since the pandemic began — we are featuring the future legends who will be stepping into the spotlight that evening.
DAUKANTÉ
ILLUSTRATRESS
Based:
Vilnius, Lithuania
Hometown:
Vilnius, Lithuania
When did you first hear about Young Guns?
When Young Guns 17 applications were about to close, I got a DM on Instagram from their team saying they love my work and I should apply, and gave me a disscount code.
This is your third time entering into Young Guns– third time's a charm! How do you feel you've grown as an artist in between attempts?
I do not feel that my work is a lot different than previous years. Although, this year I started using pencils instead of markers and one “pencil project” I uploaded is a self-initiated (unpublished) book on Hiccups. I always feel that these close-to-heart projects are the ones that characterize you better than the ones with a client.
Since you are only allowed to submit six projects, how did you decide which pieces were best to enter and truly reflected you and your work?
I was always sure of one project because of the DM invitation to apply that the Young Guns team had sent me two years ago. The others had to reflect my style best since showing different projects for different clients can make you look adaptive, but not confident in what you want to create.
How did you celebrate when you found out you won Young Guns?
I was grateful. I was in bed. I stayed in bed. I think I will celebrate in NYC.
"I was grateful. I was in bed. I stayed in bed. I think I will celebrate in NYC."
If you had to pick one of the six projects that you entered as your favorite, which one would it be and why?
The Hiccup Book. It is a personal project that I have been working on for the last year in quarantine. I was fired from my art direction job in advertising, and I had the chance to work on something that was in my mind for a couple of years.
If you had to describe your creative style, the part of your work that’s most distinctively “you,” what would it be?
I try to find irony in situations that I draw. I also love contrasts in visuals– not necessarily in colors or shapes, but more in the storyline of the illustration. I also love to start a drawing after I think of a good name for it– it keeps me going.
My parents are both writers/authors, so maybe that is where the influence comes from. When it comes to my work style, I am very strict and my harshest employer. Maybe that is why in this deadline-based environment I can only produce funny and ironical images.
Who are some of the biggest influences on your work and career– people who may have had a hand in mentoring and supporting you?
I love the work of Michaela Younge, Matthew Palladino, and Tara Booth. When it comes to supporters, I have pretty great friends.
The pandemic of 2020 is slowly starting to taper a bit, so do you have any big goals moving forward into 2022?
I would like to find a publisher for my Hiccup illustration book, get more clients, and find an agent so that I can work outside an office.
Name a creative dream that you have yet to fulfill — hey, maybe Young Guns can help propel you in that direction!
I would love to work with Adidas Originals.
Go check out all the Young Guns 19 Winners in the archive!
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