Forever and Ever Updated Cover

Cover for Forever and Ever

This is the cover to my story "Forever and Ever". It is my contribution to illopond's Steampunk 2 Anthology.

Gargoyle Goblin from Morgan MonsterHunter & the Crypto Kid

My daughter and I started telling Morgan MonsterHunter and the Crypto Kid stories about 3 years ago. We had about 30 stories with well over 50 characters. Some were fairly generic monster-of-the-week types, but there were quite a few well-developed characters and original ideas, too.

I have dozens of creative projects that I'd like to get to. There are three that have always stayed at the top of this ever - growing list, though:

1.  Morgan MonsterHunter and the Crypto Kid

2.  WeirdWood

3.  Chickadee Sweet and the Nightbird

I need to start dedicating some time to one of these...

Aim High

Coati Concept Art

Here are some character design concepts for a current illustration job. I am really looking forward to diving into this one. I love the vivid rainforest environment!

The GrumblePout

This is a design for a creature / character that I plan on using in an upcoming fantasy story.

Chomp! A Megalodon Conversation

Some Bugs

I designed these cute bugs to be vinyl decorations for kids' bedrooms and playrooms.

Every time I walk through a store or look at my kids' toys, clothes, games, etc., I get so excited about art licensing. It is just one more thing that keeps getting pushed down on my to-do list.... :(

Bird on a Branch Who Blinks

Food Illustrations

Brown Surprise on the Move

Kitchen Painting

I painted this for some friends in San Francisco. 

notsosecrettalesofafatass

An Illustration for Farfaria's Puss in Boots

Farfaria is a super cool iPad app. It has tons of great stories and really awesome artwork for kids. My 3 year old and 6 year old love it! You can get the 30 day free trial here: Farfaria. I illustrated a version of "Puss in Boots". I am working on more stories with them, both writing and illustrating. Here is an illustration from "Puss in Boots".

Madness!!!

This is a WIP for a story I am working on for the Illopond's Steampunk 2 anthology. I think it is one of the better stories I have written. A girl named Marie is writing letters to her brother who is stationed far away. Their father is sick and at death's door....but then begins to "cure" himself. This tale gets quite creepy...

Nursery Animal Paintings

Here is a recent commision. The job required three pieces for a nursery: a horse, a dragon, and a monkey.

I sketched some quick samples in photoshop (10-15 min each):

Taking the time to sketch out the compositions, color palette, and character design helped make the actual painting time faster and enjoyable! I add layers of paint, then I scrape, scratch, and sand down the canvases to give them a worn and textured look. Finally, I add a thick coat of gloss finish.

Here are the final canvases (12"x12"):

Style Shift for "The ARRIVAL"

My original vision for this story was to use a simple vector style. My project and job plates are filling up too fast to pull this off, though (simple design is NOT simple and takes forever!) So, I'm switching the story to a style I'm more comfortable and faster with. The same thing happened with "STACK/STUCK" - That book started out with vector art as well.

Day 004 - Day 008 of 365 Etsy Items

denverwagner.etsy.com

Zombie! Magnet (Large) Day 003 of 365 Etsy Items

This colorful and silly zombie head is approximately 10" tall with a full magnetic back. Free shipping in U.S.

denverwagner.etsy.com

The Pig Painting: Day 002 of 365 Etsy Items

I painted this about 5 or 6 years ago. It is one of my early palette knife paintings. I use knives in almost all of my paintings now. I painted a new protective gloss finish which really refreshed the colors.

18" x 24" Stretched Canvas

Thickly Textured Painting - produced with Acrylic and Palette Knives

-Painted Edges

-High Gloss Protective Finish

$50.00

denverwagner.etsy.com

Polar Bear Adrift: Etsy Challenge Day 001

Today I am starting a 365 Etsy items in one year challenge. Here is item #001: Polar Bear Adrift. 

 

This image was originally created for the illustrationfriday.com topic "adrift".

Limited Edition Digital Print
8.5" x 11" Antique Parchment Paper
w/ 11" x 14" White Matte
Ready for Framing
Free Shipping in U.S.

$12.00

denverwagner.etsy.com

WIPs for new story "The Arrival"

Here are some work in progress images for my new story that will be in the illopond's upcoming "Anthology in Spaaaace!":

I will add some shadows and highlights yet, but the artwork will remain very simple. The story has a Twilight Zone-like feel and the clean graphic style will help disguise the twist until the last page.

The Cuckoo County Fair

I like to try to make something out of even little ideas and doodles. Something like this only takes a couple of hours but it was fun and now it is out of my head so I can move on!
 

Noah's Ark Interactive "Mural"

This is a small project that I plan on donating to the children's ministry of my church. It is an interactive "mural" painted on a 36"x 54" wood panel.

I painted the entire surface with magnetic paint which you can find at most hardware and craft stores. Then I painted the simple ark scene with acrylic paints and brushed a coat of gloss sealer for a textural finish. The panel has a wooden frame attached to the back so it stands about 2.5" off the wall when mounted.

Here are some detailed images of the magnets:

I sketched the characters with pencil and scanned them into my computer. I painted them with digital watercolor in Corel Painter and then printed them on "antique parchment" paper which gives them a warm and textural look. I used 3M spray adhesive to attach the prints to a sheet of magnetic material (which can be purchased from sign suppliers) and then covered them with a layer of clear gloss vinyl.

I'd like to make a bunch of these that could possibly be used as interactive apps as well. I have dozens of scene ideas (space, jungle, fairy tales, ocean, cars, zoo, etc). It would be a dream to make a living by painting fun interactive murals for daycares, schools, libraries, kid's rooms, restaurants, etc...

...so...

...feel free to contact me if you have an interest in commissioning a fun interactive mural of your own!

denver@denverwagner.com

New Boo Poster