Creature of the Week #3: Crustibian

For Sale Friday #3: Woof Monster Sketch

Buy it here: denverwagner.etsy.com

Story Page Wednesday #3: Cthulhu Wants You!

Character Monday #3: Emma Marten

This is an early character concept for an upcoming short story called Salt and Pepper. There is something  spooky going on in the woods behind the abandoned Marten milking barn. A ghost? Some sort of horrible creature? Emma, her best friend Azure, and her brother David, will get to the bottom of this mystery...whether they want to or not.

Creature of the Week #2: The Looker

For Sale Friday #2: Monster Buddy Magnet Set

Do you like to put weird stuff on your refrigerator? Super! Then you'll love this Monster Buddy magnet set featuring Sasquatch, Frankenstein's Monster, Swamp Breath, and the Token Zombie!  Check it out at denverwagner.etsy.com.

Story Page Wednesday #2: Waiting on a Friend

Character Monday #2: Terror the Tiger

Nobody is safe when Terror is on the prowl ... 476 confirmed kills.

For Sale Friday #1: Textured Tapir Poster (Red and Green)

I just opened a shop at DenverWagner.etsy.com. I have decided to use etsy for my store because it is already the online destination for buyers of hand-made, original, and limited edition items. Over the next year I hope to build a solid reputation as a unique, prolific, and genuine creator of cool quality stuff.

It may take a little time to have a fully stocked store...I have lots of stuff I want to put in there!  I will add AT LEAST one item per week on For Sale Fridays and they will vary in price, style and function. Every item will meet these three criteria: 1.) Hand-made original or limited edition, 2.) high production and design quality, and most importantly... 3.) I think it is cool.

Check out my first items Textured Tapir Posters and stop back for new items often. You dig?

Creature of the Week #1: Moonhead

The moonhead lives on the grassy plains of Nufsed. It sleeps for most of the day with its legs and head tucked under its body. This position keeps the moonhead hidden from the many predators of the Nufsed plains. Even from a short distance, a sleeping moonhead looks just like a large rock. As the sun sets, the moonheads begin stirring. Love is in the air and the plains begin to fill with thousands of bobbing and glowing moonhead heads. As the male approaches a female, literal sparks fly! The pair rears onto their hind legs and an electrical current bounces and crackles between their heads.

Story Page Wednesday # 1: The Absurd Bird

Character Mondays: Mokele Mbembe

During the 1970's and 80's, Mokele Mbembe was an ornery and reclusive fellow. Old age seems to have mellowed him out a bit.

Howdy. As part of an ongoing re-design of my website, I have added a new themed blog at denverwagner.com.  I will be posting Character Mondays, Story Page Wednesday, For Sale Friday, and the Creature of the Week. Stay tuned for the opening of my etsy store, the release of my kid's book "Stack / Stuck", and more cool developments @ denverwagner.com.

Stuck Illustration: Flamingos are Pink

"What Can I Do For You" #2 Patterns for the People!

Between "Stack" and my next story, I want to produce a series of relatively simple "What Can I Do For You" images. I will use them for the "call to action / about me" section of my website and also in a small printed portfolio for marketing and promotion.

I am very interested in licensing my work.  There are millions of products that require decorative art and design.  Single images work great on most products, but sometimes a large area needs to be filled. A repeating pattern can be used for stationary and office supplies, fabric prints, website backgrounds, and more.  Here is an example using a kiwi and a kiwi: 

Advertisements ~ Banners (web and physical) ~ Book cover design / illustration ~ Brochures, pamphlets, etc ~ Business branding ~ Business cards ~ Cd art ~ Character design and Concept art ~ Children’s book illustration ~ Comics ~ Display ~ Game and toy design ~ Greeting cards ~ Licensing for home and office products ~ Logos ~ Magazine Illustration ~ Marketing Campaigns ~ Mascot and Spokes-Character design ~ Murals ~ Online Media and Gaming ~ Original Art for home, office, or business ~ Packaging design ~ Posters ~ Signs ~ Stationary ~ Stickers ~ T-shirt and clothing design ~ Website design ~ and more!!!

Stack Illustration: Sneak Peak of Page 3!

I have had some creative light bulbs flashing overhead. Lot's of fun and cool stuff planned for 2011. I'm ready! I am on track to have the pages from "Stack" done this year, and printed early next year.  Stay tuned for ordering information.  Here's a peak of page 3:

A Page from "A Roar and A Squeak"

Here is another page from my story, "A Roar and A Squeak".  You can order a copy of "8: A Kid's Book Anthology" here:  Indy Planet

Below are some of my thoughts on creative steps and the state of illustration. You can find the responses from the other 8 Anthology contributors here: Artist Q & A

What advice do you have for someone who wants to add more creativity to their life?
 Success (no matter what your creative goals are) does not happen overnight, so get started now. We are lucky to live in a time where we don’t need a huge studio with expensive equipment and supplies to produce quality work.  Save up and invest in a decent “work” computer, a wacom tablet, and some art programs. Look for deals on art supplies and start filling a few art drawers with them.  If you have the space, it is helpful to set up a permanent work area.  You may be surprised by how many tiny bits of time you can find in a day to chop away at a project if it can stay set up and ready to be worked on.

I keep huge idea lists and smaller project lists and give myself deadlines to finish projects. Starting a blog has helped me keep track of my artistic progress and stay motivated and focused. The online art community is full of supportive, helpful, and cool people, and there are tons of opportunities for critique, collaboration, and networking. You can almost create your own art school experience with all the great forums, tutorials, and communities. Get involved! Here is a good place to start:  http://www.illopond.com/   Podcasts have  played a huge role in building my artistic confidence.

How do you balance family, financial obligations, and creative personal projects?
  I do have to work a day job to pay the bills. I try to make the best of it. I keep notebooks/sketchbooks around at all times.  I think through plot problems and brainstorm ideas so I can put "pencil to paper" during the limited time at my art desk.  I listen to tons of art and business related podcasts and audiobooks at work.

Time with my family is my #1 priority. This time generates the vast majority of my ideas. We eat dinner together every night. We read or tell stories every night at bedtime. We talk about the authors and the illustrators. We draw characters from our own stories. We cherish imagination. We have a lot of art supplies for the kids to use. They are encouraged to work on their own projects. We don’t watch much TV, but we do watch lots of movies together. We talk about all the work and creativity that goes into movie production.  When we see something cool (toys, park designs, games, books, clothes, etc.), I try to talk about the design, creativity, and production that goes into it. Spending time with my kids  helps me see the world with artist’s eyes and a wondering mind.

 What is the current state of illustration, and where is it headed? 
Almost everything we see has some element of design and/or illustration to it. From toys, games, books, movies, ads, clothing, packaging, signs, websites, stationary, logos, and decor…It is everywhere. For such a massive presence in our society, I don’t think that artists/illustrators/designers are always appreciated or taken seriously. Here are some pretty hilarious examples of that:  ClientsFromHell.net  Some people understand how much time and effort goes into quality illustration, but many people still think it is a cute little hobby job, and that’s how they want to pay for it.  (see my previous post Caring for and Communicating with Your Artist) Finding the right market/audience/outlet is the key for success.  (and that's not easy!)

Is there a future for print?
I hope so! I love books. I’ve heard talk that my generation may be the last one to appreciate the printed book. There are plenty of kids out there who have full book shelves, and love trips to the library and bookstores. My kids do– I think they always will.

Is learning animation and programming necessary with the increasing demand for interactive media?
 It is impossible to learn every tool and technology.  I believe we should learn as much as we can, but focus on a few areas that we love and do those “awesomely”. 

How do you stay motivated when you see so many fantastic artists struggle, and “less professional” artists work for next to nothing?
Spec work and world economies make it incredibly difficult to earn a living wage as an illustrator. It is a competitive field that is full of awesome talent.  It’s not ever easy. When I’m not feeling great about my professional progress, I try to remember how much I enjoy creating and look back at my finished work. I always hope that someone else “gets it”, but I do this “just for me”, too. 
What are the most important things we can do right now to be relevant in 10 years?
Work on projects that we truly love and truly believe in. Stay informed and educated. Build deep and lasting relationships. Value children and teach value to children.

What are some of you influences and/or inspirations?
I am a pretty big fan of horror. I love horror movies from the Universal films to modern classics like The Devil’s Backbone. I especially love classic horror tales by M.R. James, Poe, Lovecraft, Ambrose Bierce, Saki, and all those old gruesome fairy tales. 

"Art of..." concept books are a HUGE influence for me.  I love the media experimentaion, the sketchy lines, and the variations that never became part of the finished work.

It is my opinion that the best artwork in the world is found in children’s books. I can (and do) spend hours and hours flipping through illustrated books for kids. Very inspiring stuff.  Three of my favorite artists are Charley Harper, Pascal Campion, and Chris Ayers .

Stuck Illustration: Mooo?

I haven't received any questions about whether or not a cow will play a significant role in Stack.  The answer is no.   She has a part in Stuck.

The Stack anteater started his career posing for cheesy Valentine's Day cards in the early 1990's.  "Those were crazy times." he said.

Stack Illustration: What an Anteater Does Best

The Arrival

Here is an early sketch for one of next year's short stories.  It will be a 1950's style sci-fi romp with a Twilight Zonesque twist.  Ughh! I've been reading too many badly written reviews lately.  

Turkey, Pilgrims, and Zombies!

We had a great Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for the wonderful people in my life.  I am especially thankful for my wife, who puts up with my cuckoo crazy mind and tries to understand my urgent need to empty it.

I am the proud father of probably the coolest 5 year old in the whole world.  She knows who Cthulhu is.  She likes the 1931 Frankenstein.  And the subject she chose for our Thanksgiving sketch was Zombies.  Here are our drawings:

 

This is mine.

This is my nephew's. I especially like how the leg rotted off.

And this is my daughter's.  A pretty dynamic pose for a 5 year old.

My niece made a funny save the turkey sign. No zombie turkeys, though. She is writing and illustrating a book. Here are some of her character designs:



She is starting to learn about digital coloring.  I think she will have a finished book in 2011! Very cool.



Stack Illustration: Turtles...patience required.

Stack Illustration: Rustle...SNAP!...grrrrr

Stack Illustration: No, You Hop On!

Prana Electric II

Here's the Prana design with some of the suggested changes.

Prana Electric

A design option for a friend's new company.

Stack Illustration: Ready. Set. Stack!

Stack Illustration: Otter Games

"What Can I Do For You" #1 Stack: the game of animal stacking

Between "Stack" and my next story, I want to produce a series of relatively simple "What Can I Do For You" images.  I will use them for the "call to action / about me" section of my website and also in a small printed portfolio for marketing and promotion.

There are thousands of applications for artwork, illustration, and design.  As a creative entrepreneur (Does that sound better than freelancer?...I think so.), I have to show my potential customers the benefits that good art and design will bring to their business, product, project, etc.   By showing some examples of my art in context, a client can see potential solutions for their needs, and have a clear understanding of the value that I bring to their project. 

Advertisements ~ Banners (web and physical) ~ Book cover design / illustration ~ Brochures, pamphlets, etc ~ Business branding ~ Business cards ~ Cd art ~ Character design and Concept art ~ Children’s book illustration ~ Comics ~ Display ~ Game and toy design ~ Greeting cards ~ Licensing for home and office products ~ Logos ~ Magazine Illustration ~ Marketing Campaigns ~ Mascot and Spokes-Character design ~ Murals ~ Online Media and Gaming ~ Original Art for home, office, or business ~ Packaging design ~ Posters ~ Signs ~ Stationary ~ Stickers ~ T-shirt and clothing design ~ Website design ~ and more!!!

I'd like to meet his tailor

Do you remember that time your boyfriend said that he had a big secret to tell you, and you thought he was going to propose to you?  Silly girl.

Stack Illustration: Oh No! The TIGER!!!

Stack Illustration: The rabbit's morning jog comes to an end.

An Illustration from 'Stack'

Here is an illustration from 'Stack'.  I've decided to use a loose and energetic style for the final artwork.  I liked the clean vector-style character tests, but I think this story works better if the reader can see the "hand" behind the illustrations.

I have been reading  a lot of "Art of..." books lately.  (some of my favorites are "The Art of The Lion King", "The Art of How to Train Your Dragon", and Chris Ayers' "The Daily Zoo")  The concept art for the character, set, and prop designs are totally fascinating to me.  I love seeing the sketchy lines, media experimentation, and style tests.  I love how alive concept art and storyboards feel.  I hope to bring this loose and experimental style to "Stack", while keeping a purposeful feel and professional quality to the book's design.