...Aaahhh shuda...
...Gupa Nupa :) ...
...Ning-a-ning-a Ningu...
...Gunda = Yub Yub...
... lol...
...Gupa Nupa :) ...
...Ning-a-ning-a Ningu...
...Gunda = Yub Yub...
... lol...
2/23/10
2/22/10
Fan Mail!
I received a piece of fan mail! There was also a small figurine with the letter. It's not the best craftsmanship I've ever seen, but it's the thought that counts. It's moments like this that make all the years of hard work and sacrifice worth while. I wonder how they found my address and then put the package under my pillow without waking me.2/19/10
Tips on Caring for & Communicating with Your Artist
Every group of people has their own frustrations and pet peeves. The things that bother a banker, or an athlete, or a retiree, or a brand new mother are all different (and there are plenty of blogs to prove it.) Artists have their beefs, too. Your artist friend, family member, employee, or potential contractor has probably come across the occasional person who has either no respect for artistic skill or no understanding of artistic skill (maybe just this afternoon, which could explain their grumpy-pants attitude).
Tone is hard to convey in writing so please keep this in mind as you read: this post is not intended to sound condescending or make artists sound like a bunch of cranky malcontents. I hope you find it entertaining, informative, and a helpful in the understanding of your artist!
No artist wants to hear the following statements. Sometimes they come from well-meaning friends or family, sometimes they come from potential clients, and sometime they come from know-it-all strangers (who don't really know it all). I haven't personally heard all of these, but I've heard variations of most of them.
--"Hey, you like to draw. Why don't you draw a portrait (or caricature) of my kid (or car, or pet, etc.)?"
I don't like to draw, I love to draw. I love to draw so much that I have lists and lists of things that I want to draw. I will never have enough time to get to even a small fraction of these things and it makes me kind of sad. So yes, I love to draw MY STUFF. Pay me to draw your stuff.
--"How fun! You get to draw whimsical little drawings all day!"
No, we don't. A successful artist / illustrator (especially a freelance artist/ illustrator) must be a salesperson, a promoter, an accountant, a researcher, and a bookkeeper. We must manage inventory and supplies, build a strong network, and constantly educate ourselves on current tools and technology. Then, with any luck, we find a few clients who will actually pay us to make some artwork (which is rarely "fun" or "whimsical".) Then, the majority of us wake up and head to our day job.
--"Hey, I have this great idea for a story. I'll let you illustrate it. If I can get any money for it, I'll give you some."
Dude, write a professional contract and pay me for the work that I do. If you want to let me in on some of that sweet success down the road, put it in the contract. I'm willing to compromise, especially if I like your idea. If I'm going to work for nothing, I have dozens of my own stories that I'd rather invest my time in.
--"You're good at drawing. Can you draw me a logo for my new company, quick? Don't spend a lot of time on it or anything."
You just want to pay for a 1/2 hour's worth of work. Concepting, researching, and sketching, often takes as much or more time than the actual creation of a final piece. If "quick" was an option, don't you think we'd always use it? I've had ideas stew in my head for years before I've ever put them down on paper.
There's this great saying:
--"You could totally get a booth at such & such "starving artist" expo."
When I hear commercials use the cutesy term "starving artist" it makes me a little angry. How would you like to get paid $39.99 for fifteen hours of work? Add to that the cost of supplies. Add to that paying for the booth you "get" to set up at. I don't understand why any artists support these expos. I'll take my chances at a legitimate convention, art fair or gallery where a piece of art is actually considered valuable. People think that a $39.99 painting is worth $39.99. People think a $300 or $3000 or $30,000 painting is an investment.
That being said, I personally have very few pieces that I would price over $100.
--"All you did was Photoshop that."
Photoshop is not magical. Neither is Illustrator, Painter, or any of the other (expensive) programs that an illustrator is expected to own and know how to use. They are incredibly complex and can be quite frustrating. There isn't an "awesome" button. Also, you need to come up with ideas and have the ability to translate those ideas to suit each specific project. Computer programs are tools and there are skills required to make them work.
--"You should enter this contest I saw online. The winner gets $150!"
These "contests" are a way for cheap companies to take advantage of naive artists. They get dozens or hundreds of pieces created to their specifications and only have to pay for one. This is called SPEC WORK and it devalues every hard working illustrator who is trying to provide for him/herself and his/her family. Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering 20 or 30 items off the menu but only paying for the one item you liked best. It's ridiculous. Artists should not be expected to work for nothing. Here is a website with more information: no-spec.com
--"You'll never make a ton of money with this stuff."
You are right. The thing is, I'm not really interested in new fancy cars, or an electronics-filled "man cave"(possibly the most annoying term ever created), or other expensive junk. I want my wife and kids to be comfortable and happy. If that means I need to have a day job, so be it. A lot of artists have the same goal: make enough money on each project to pay for the time spent working on the next one. I'll be happy with that. Anything beyond that is just icing on my cake.
--"Wait, you watch cartoons and read kids books even without your kids?"
Yes, and at the risk of sounding pretentious, I understand them on a deeper level than most other adults. I am totally fascinated by the processes and people behind the production of great stories and artwork. This is what I want to do. A musician digs a little deeper into music, an athlete notices a great play as it develops, a politician sees a situation he/she can take advantage of (ha ha), etc., etc. An artist notices details and ponders how and why these specific elements work in a scene or on a page.
--"OK, draw up some sketches (or comps, or drafts, or layouts, or whatever term this potential client uses) so I can decide if I want to use you on the project."
This is often the most time consuming and mentally challenging part of any project. No other profession exists where a worker is expected to start the job before he/she is hired. Artists have portfolios, resumes, and samples of their work for a reason. Did you see something in my portfolio that you liked? Do you think my style will work on this particular project? If the answer is yes, then hire me. There will be plenty of opportunities written into the contract for alterations and (if you must) your creative input.
--"Can you fool around with some ideas for this project in your spare time?
No. I don't have spare time. I have a full-time family and a full-time job. Your project is not a hobby for me. I am serious about producing quality work for paying clients and building a reputation that allows me to eventually freelance full-time. If I had spare time, I'd have no problem filling it with my own to-do lists.
So there you have it. I know this is a long post but it feels good to get this stuff out there. If you made it all the way here, thanks for reading! I assume you know exactly what I'm talking about, or you care enough about an artist in your life to try to understand him/her. If you find the information useful or relevant, please pass it around. The more people that understand where an artist is coming from, the more colorful and creative our world will become!
Tone is hard to convey in writing so please keep this in mind as you read: this post is not intended to sound condescending or make artists sound like a bunch of cranky malcontents. I hope you find it entertaining, informative, and a helpful in the understanding of your artist!
No artist wants to hear the following statements. Sometimes they come from well-meaning friends or family, sometimes they come from potential clients, and sometime they come from know-it-all strangers (who don't really know it all). I haven't personally heard all of these, but I've heard variations of most of them.
--"Hey, you like to draw. Why don't you draw a portrait (or caricature) of my kid (or car, or pet, etc.)?"
I don't like to draw, I love to draw. I love to draw so much that I have lists and lists of things that I want to draw. I will never have enough time to get to even a small fraction of these things and it makes me kind of sad. So yes, I love to draw MY STUFF. Pay me to draw your stuff.
--"How fun! You get to draw whimsical little drawings all day!"
No, we don't. A successful artist / illustrator (especially a freelance artist/ illustrator) must be a salesperson, a promoter, an accountant, a researcher, and a bookkeeper. We must manage inventory and supplies, build a strong network, and constantly educate ourselves on current tools and technology. Then, with any luck, we find a few clients who will actually pay us to make some artwork (which is rarely "fun" or "whimsical".) Then, the majority of us wake up and head to our day job.
--"Hey, I have this great idea for a story. I'll let you illustrate it. If I can get any money for it, I'll give you some."
Dude, write a professional contract and pay me for the work that I do. If you want to let me in on some of that sweet success down the road, put it in the contract. I'm willing to compromise, especially if I like your idea. If I'm going to work for nothing, I have dozens of my own stories that I'd rather invest my time in.
--"You're good at drawing. Can you draw me a logo for my new company, quick? Don't spend a lot of time on it or anything."
You just want to pay for a 1/2 hour's worth of work. Concepting, researching, and sketching, often takes as much or more time than the actual creation of a final piece. If "quick" was an option, don't you think we'd always use it? I've had ideas stew in my head for years before I've ever put them down on paper.
There's this great saying:
- You can have it fast.
- You can have it good.
- You can have it cheap.
--"You could totally get a booth at such & such "starving artist" expo."
When I hear commercials use the cutesy term "starving artist" it makes me a little angry. How would you like to get paid $39.99 for fifteen hours of work? Add to that the cost of supplies. Add to that paying for the booth you "get" to set up at. I don't understand why any artists support these expos. I'll take my chances at a legitimate convention, art fair or gallery where a piece of art is actually considered valuable. People think that a $39.99 painting is worth $39.99. People think a $300 or $3000 or $30,000 painting is an investment.
That being said, I personally have very few pieces that I would price over $100.
--"All you did was Photoshop that."
Photoshop is not magical. Neither is Illustrator, Painter, or any of the other (expensive) programs that an illustrator is expected to own and know how to use. They are incredibly complex and can be quite frustrating. There isn't an "awesome" button. Also, you need to come up with ideas and have the ability to translate those ideas to suit each specific project. Computer programs are tools and there are skills required to make them work.
--"You should enter this contest I saw online. The winner gets $150!"
These "contests" are a way for cheap companies to take advantage of naive artists. They get dozens or hundreds of pieces created to their specifications and only have to pay for one. This is called SPEC WORK and it devalues every hard working illustrator who is trying to provide for him/herself and his/her family. Imagine going to a restaurant and ordering 20 or 30 items off the menu but only paying for the one item you liked best. It's ridiculous. Artists should not be expected to work for nothing. Here is a website with more information: no-spec.com
--"You'll never make a ton of money with this stuff."
You are right. The thing is, I'm not really interested in new fancy cars, or an electronics-filled "man cave"(possibly the most annoying term ever created), or other expensive junk. I want my wife and kids to be comfortable and happy. If that means I need to have a day job, so be it. A lot of artists have the same goal: make enough money on each project to pay for the time spent working on the next one. I'll be happy with that. Anything beyond that is just icing on my cake.
--"Wait, you watch cartoons and read kids books even without your kids?"
Yes, and at the risk of sounding pretentious, I understand them on a deeper level than most other adults. I am totally fascinated by the processes and people behind the production of great stories and artwork. This is what I want to do. A musician digs a little deeper into music, an athlete notices a great play as it develops, a politician sees a situation he/she can take advantage of (ha ha), etc., etc. An artist notices details and ponders how and why these specific elements work in a scene or on a page.
--"OK, draw up some sketches (or comps, or drafts, or layouts, or whatever term this potential client uses) so I can decide if I want to use you on the project."
This is often the most time consuming and mentally challenging part of any project. No other profession exists where a worker is expected to start the job before he/she is hired. Artists have portfolios, resumes, and samples of their work for a reason. Did you see something in my portfolio that you liked? Do you think my style will work on this particular project? If the answer is yes, then hire me. There will be plenty of opportunities written into the contract for alterations and (if you must) your creative input.
--"Can you fool around with some ideas for this project in your spare time?
No. I don't have spare time. I have a full-time family and a full-time job. Your project is not a hobby for me. I am serious about producing quality work for paying clients and building a reputation that allows me to eventually freelance full-time. If I had spare time, I'd have no problem filling it with my own to-do lists.
So there you have it. I know this is a long post but it feels good to get this stuff out there. If you made it all the way here, thanks for reading! I assume you know exactly what I'm talking about, or you care enough about an artist in your life to try to understand him/her. If you find the information useful or relevant, please pass it around. The more people that understand where an artist is coming from, the more colorful and creative our world will become!
One more thing I want to add: There are many situations where artists should and do donate their time and skills. Helping out a friend or family member or donating to a specific cause or charity is a valuable use of artistic talent. It's good for everyone involved and as a bonus, the artist may get a nice piece for his/her portfolio.
-Denver Wagner Feb.2010
2/18/10
the Boy & the Bread
People are difficult for me to draw, but it seems that more and more of my stories and ideas actually have these silly, mostly hairless creatures in them. I have put off drawing people for too long! I am now committed to taking the steps required to get better at it. I shall draw several people every week. With practice comes improvement. I will not post any nude drawings of my wife because my wife will not pose nude. Also, she probably will not find much humor in the previous sentence. Here is a quick sketch of my son with a loaf of bread.
2/17/10
2/16/10
The Forgotten Wildlife: Cliff Leaper
The cliff leaper clings to the glossy Marble Cliffs that line the coast of the Nufsed Sea. When it is hungry, the cliff leaper launches itself at one of the many species of seaflogs as they fly by. The cliff leaper opens it's mouth incredibly wide, and swallows the seaflog whole. The weight of the seaflog causes the cliff leaper to plummet to the sea below. There, it will float for several days while it digests it's meal. The membranes of fatty skin that stretch between it's limbs allow the cliff leaper to glide great distances and ride the thermal currents that rise from the warm water below. These flaps of skin are also filled with black pockets of air for floating on the surface of the calm Nufsed Sea. When the cliff leaper's meal is fully digested, it climbs back up the smooth surface of the Marble Cliffs using a suctioning technique and repeats the whole process.
2/15/10
The Who Rules!
The day the owl awoke while the sun was still out
He squinted his eyes and looked all about
.
He thought the afternoon was awful and he spent it poutin'
Until the sun finally set behind stoney Stone Mountain
.
The owl pursed his beak to let out a great HOO
The owl pursed his beak to let out a great HOO
But surprised himself with a cock-a-doodle-doo
2/12/10
Bark
Bark is a character from a story my daughter and I have been building on called Morgan Monster Hunter & the Crypto Kid.
.
It's a mix of Alice in Wonderland, Universal monster and 50's B-movies, The Spiderwick Chronicles, cryptozoology, mythology, and legends from around the world, Scooby Doo, and Stand By Me (minus the dead body and the swearing, of course!), all contained in the normal school and family life of 11 year old Morgan and her genius friend, the Crypto Kid .
.
We take turns adding characters and adventures before bed. It has been entertaining...and the world is quickly expanding. I wish I had more time to play around with the character designs. 
Bark was discovered in a cave in the woods behind Morgan's house. Morgan rescued him from the horrible Spider Lord of the Underground. She had to create a dog disguise for the little creature so her parents wouldn't get suspicious.
Bark was discovered in a cave in the woods behind Morgan's house. Morgan rescued him from the horrible Spider Lord of the Underground. She had to create a dog disguise for the little creature so her parents wouldn't get suspicious. 
Of course, Bark can't "bark" and makes strange noises when he tries, raising suspicion in Morgan's parents anyways.
2/11/10
Illustration Friday: Muddy
Zombies love the soft muddy ground following a rain storm. They also love brains.
2/10/10
And Shirley Was Never Seen Again
This is an excellent site for classic and new comic strips: GoComics.com http://www.gocomics.com/
Some of my favorites are:
- BC by Johnny Hart
- Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Waterson
- Fox Trot by Bill Amend
Unfortunately, Gary Larson's The Far Side is not available (legally) online. It is my favorite comic of all time.
2/9/10
K is for Koala
I thought this name was pretty clever... then I googled it and wasn't as impressed with myself.
2/4/10
V is for Vulture
Thanks, Kathe! Here is her logo suggestion: Vulture Valley Collection Agency
Still taking suggestions for animal company logos.
.It's fast and easy.
Letter+Animal+Business/Group/Product = FUN! FUN! FUN!
*NOT A GUARANTEE*
.
See Monday's post for what letters are done. Leave comments or suggestions below.
2/3/10
Fly Full Frog
Hop, Croak, Ribbit. Croak , Ribbit, Hop, Hop
The fat, fly-full frog has come to a stop
.No more earthworms or beetles to munch
Not one more bite of bug until lunch
The flies fly boldly and then their luck ends
For a frog has lunch every twelve seconds
2/2/10
Illustration Friday: Focused
Thomas James at Escape From Illustration Island (a great illustrator resource site!)is running a contest this month, which finally got me to start posting at Illustration Friday. I've been wanting to submit some pieces over there for a while. They post a topic on Fridays, and artists have a week to illustrate their interpretation of it.
The topic this week is "focused". This is an older gouche on bristol piece. It was in pretty bad shape but I thought there was some potential in it. I spent about an hour and a half cropping it, cleaning it up, and tweaking the color. I got it to the point where I like it quite a bit.
1/29/10
The Testimony of Sheriff Lewis Brown
"The Dundersford widow came to me with a story so absurd, that it sounded like it came right out of one of those silly old tales by them Grimm brothers. As a matter of fact, I remember telling the old bird to sell off those last few cows and go into the business of writing scary stories for the local tots!
Well, Mrs. Dundersford said that that lunatic up on the hill, Frankenstein, was up to no good. She called him “Doctor” and said that he was up there playing with dead folks and parts of dead folks. She said he was making the dead come to life!
So I says to myself, Frankenstein may be a lunatic, but he ain’t no doctor. If he’s got cadaver’s up there, he didn’t get ‘em legally. The widow probably just saw the nut playing with some store mannequins or something. Who knows what that weirdo is into, but I told her I’d go up to check it out, anyways.
So of course, it was dark and stormy as I headed up to question Frankenstein. I arrived at his door, soaked to the bone, and slammed the giant knocker three times. There was more lightning than I’d ever seen. Finally the door creaked open and Frankenstein peeked out. "Let me in, you fool!" I tried to shout through chattering teeth. I showed my badge and he reluctantly pulled the door open.
I told him what the Dundersford widow had reported to me. Frankenstein looked shocked at first. Then his mouth curled into a frenzied toothy grin. “That crazy old bat,” he laughed. “she’s got it all wrong! None of them have come to life...yet. But, tonight”, he laughed some more. “TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT!”
Frankenstein grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the stairs. “Come up, Come up!” he shouted. “Witness the miracle! Witness my genius!” We entered an upstairs bedroom. It was disgusting. The room was covered with blood and gristle and flies. A vaguely human shaped monstrosity laid across the bed. Body parts were not so skillfully sewn together like some sort of puzzle from hell. Wind and rain blew in from the open window above the bed. A long and twisted metal wire wound in through the window and wrapped around one of the bed posts.
Well, the next few minutes were kind of a blur. I remember a flash of lightning and a static crackle across the bed. Then the thing starts to move! It sits up and looks at me.
"Daddy?" it says.
I was down those stairs and out the door in a flash. I ran down the hill and I turned to see if the thing was following. It was almost right on top of me! It reached for me with it's decaying yellow-green hands when, suddenly, it was attacked from the side by the biggest derned wolf I've ever seen. I stared in shock for a moment, then turned and ran home. I heard howling all night long.
I couldn't believe it. I'd been saved by one of those good-fer-nuthin, pain-in-my-ear wolves!"
.- Lewis Brown (May 12, 1954)
One month later, under a full moon, Sheriff Brown was killed by a werewolf/Frankenstein monster hybrid.
the end
1/28/10
1/27/10
Happy To Be A Monkey
Deep in the jungle among the trees
That sway away in the warm summer breeze
A monkey showed how fast he could swing
That sway away in the warm summer breeze
A monkey showed how fast he could swing
On the branches above with a zip zap zoom zing
And it was clear for all to see
Just how happy to be a monkey was he
Just how happy to be a monkey was he
.
This is a style test for a kid's book that I'm working on. Any comments, suggestions, or critiques regarding the artwork and/or the text will be appreciated.
1/26/10
Q is for Quail
I love the outdoors...for six to eight months a year. Wisconsin winters are awful. The cold, the snow and ice, and the layers and layers of clothing...I'm about to lose it! Hurry, spring!!!!!Thanks, Gina, for the Quail Camouflage suggestion!
1/25/10
1/22/10
Goodbye, Pudding Man
The Pudding Man has watched over this blog for several months. His primary functions were to greet visitors, stare, and prevent any ugly unicorns from being posted. I think the unicorn threat has been neutralized. It is time for the Pudding Man to step down from his post. The Pudding Man reigns no more! I fear no ugly unicorns! Plus, I like my new banner. I also updated my portfolio: http://denverwagner.com/.
So, I respectfully send off the Pudding Man banner...I still love you, but your fonts are kind of...terrible.
I really, really hope no ugly unicorns show up here...especially not on Monday, January 25th, 2010.
1/21/10
The Forgotten Wildlife: Coastal Mucksucker
The coastal mucksucker lives on the coast and sucks muck. It aspires to one day pack sand.
Mucksuckers Groening style.
Mucksucker on a T-shirt? Yep...
...or as a certain singer I know put it, "What's that giraffe-thing
on your shirt?"
1/20/10
F is for Firefly
If it can be brewed, you'll find it at the Firefly! Your one-stop shop for beer, coffee, and trouble.
1/19/10
1/18/10
C is for Chimpanzee
Trust me, you don't want to know what they're made of.
While I play around with this silly little blog, guys like this exist: Pascal Campion. Holy Moley! I don't know if I should be inspired or give up!
1/15/10
Huck Finn / Chris Oatley's Artcast
I listen to a ton of podcasts. I have links for some of my favorite art related podcasts in the column to the right under "cool places". Art & Story, Escape from Illustration Island, Ninja Mountain, and Big Illustration Party Time are all great. I'm thankful for all the time and effort the hosts put into these shows. They are entertaining, informative, and inspiring and make the day job go a little faster and feel more productive.Chris Oatley's Artcast is really great. He has a down-to-earth personality, and an inclusive, genuinely positive attitude. He is building a community of like-minded people through his blog, podcast, and other networking sites. About a month ago, he posted his first assignment.
The assignment consisted of designing a character that combined classic literature with horror. I had a lot of fun playing around with the concept, (I was close to settling on a vampire/Piggy from Lord of the Flies) when the combo of Gillman/Huckleberry Finn crossed my mind. Get it?It's an obvious pun, and I won't be surprised if other Huck Finns show up. (I am excited to see the rest of the submissions!) I wanted my design to have the look and feel of a classic 1950's era Looney Toon, which I think are some of the funniest cartoons of all time.
Part of the assignment was to call the listener line and leave a message about the piece, which I did. Dorkily. Oh well.
1/14/10
E is for Echidna
Echidna Investment Group...Helping you build your nest egg. What do you think, brown or blue?
I received some great suggestions for animal logos. Thanks, Kathe and Gina. I'm excited to get working on them!
1/13/10
Animal Paintings -> Ghost Stories (???)
These are all 16" x 20" acrylic on canvas. I like paintings with thick, textural brush and knife strokes. When they are hung on a wall, they can seem to be almost alive. They change as the highlights and shadows move depending the light source and the angle at which the painting is viewed.
There are at least two creepy stories about paintings coming to life. "The Road Virus Heads North" by Stephen King is about a writer (in a Stephen King story...no way!) who buys a painting at a yard sale. The figure in the painting seems to slowly turn towards him and he doesn't look friendly!
"The Road Virus..." is not too subtly inspired by M.R. James' "The Mezzotint". Here's a link to Librivox's mp3 recordings of M. R. James' Ghost Stories of an Antiquary which includes "The Mezzotint". All of these stories are great and Peter Yearsley is probably the best reader over there. If you haven't had a chance to explore public domain literature, I recommend checking out Librivox.org. Lot's of good stuff for free.
1/12/10
W is for Walrus
Here is the first suggested animal logo. Dale, I know you were thinking "combs & such" , but I like how "Walrus Brushes and Such" sounds. I will send you your bill and good luck with the business.Any other requests out there? 19 letters to go!
These are the letters that are done:
- A is for Aardvark (Aardvark Pest Control)
- B is for Bug (Yummy Bugs)
- G is for Great White (The Kentucky Great Whites)
- P is for Platypus (Platypus Publishing)
- S is for Sheep (Sleepy Sheep)
- T is for Tapir (Tapir Paper)
- W is for Walrus (Walrus Brushes & Such)
Please leave any animal company suggestions in the comments after this post.
Thanks, Dale.
1/11/10
kangaroos? rabbits? dogs?
My daughter and I were playing Connect Four yesterday afternoon. She was about to drop one of her pieces when I told her that I saw a spot where she could win. She examined the board, but couldn't find the spot. I said "Look closely."
She got right down on her hands and knees and put her face about two inches from the game. She didn't understand why I was laughing.
There's not a whole lot of edgy or sophisticated humor in our house, but there is plenty of genuine laughter.
1/8/10
Uh Huh Huh
I've been called out. Yes, I forgot today is Elvis' 75th birthday. Elvis ranks very high on my list of cool people. Sorry for the oversight.
Stepped On By A Dinosaur
This is a picture of me that was taken in the mid-Jurassic period. I'm under Patrick's back left foot. Man, I'm a geek... Why are you reading this?
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