Congrats to Brandon Dorman

Congratulations to Brandon Dorman for his new book WIZARD out this summer from Greenwillow. Greenwillow is a Harper Collins imprints. They are the only imprint I know of that treats their bookmaking friends like family. (Brandon, let me know if your experience was otherwise.)Jack Prelutsky authored the book so it only goes to show how much confidence Paul Z has in Brandon.

Santa's Comin' to Town

Since the weather's not warming up as summer approaches, I thought I'd continue the x-mas icons. Ole Saint Nick for you comments and suggestions.

I'm going to try to post one serious image as well as this playful during the week. I'm so often torn between the two. Some of the serious themes are so rich in content that painting becomes like meditation. The playful ones are my way of laughing out loud...quietly.

Anyway, let me know what you think. Either here or on my website www.davidwilsonillustration.com

Classic Boy Toys

Here are four drawings I did for a packaging company called Temkin International. I had so much fun drawing these that I fear I may have gone a little overboard on the details. This is about the size of the drawing that I took into Photoshop to color digitally. Enjoy.

I should have these up on my website, www.davidwilsonillustration.com, in a couple days.

On a more serious note

Here a painting I did a while ago called Come Ye to the Waters. It's based upon the scriptural themes of Christ as the Living Waters as well as the ole' "he leadeth me beside still waters."
I've isolated her in the wilderness (Idaho near my in-laws) much the way we're placed in a harsh and demanding world, but a place where we can also find beauty and enjoyment.

Anyway, a painting I loved putting real meaning into, and downplaying it's meaning into a simple subject. There's a lot to be said for subtlety, especially in religious work.

Sorry about the camera distortion.

Frosty

Oh for heaven's sake! A blog should be blogged, so here's another image. I've been trying to expand my style into the cute and cuddly, so naturally snowmen and Santa came to mind. Here's the Snowman to be followed by Santa soon.

This started as a 30 sec sketch, went to a 15 minute acrylic study, and then to a 30-40 min piece. I'll include as much as I've scanned in.

Some strong improvements in character, modeling, & design, but it also lost something in being worked over. Se' la vi (you guessed it, I don't speak French).

Self Portrait

Here is a recent portrait of mine. Oil on panel .

Let the games begin!

Welcome one and all to the inaugural post of David Wilson's Illustrator Haven. This blog follows the misadventures of an illustrator on the loose, namely me. Feel free to visit my website at www.davidwilsonillustration.com

To friends old and new, thanks for stopping by; I'd love hear about what's going on in your lives and about the windmills that we're always chasing.

I'll be posting images and discussions from my professional work as well as personal projects. All postings on this blog welcome your criticism and comments.

Let the games begin!