Christopher Denise's Blog

Willow and Bunny by Anitra Rowe Schulte, @a  will launch on October 10th, 2023. Published by Two Lions.

“From a Caldecott Honor winner and New York Times bestselling artist and a Christopher Award–winning author, a beautiful, heartfelt tale of friendship, community, and hope after a difficult experience”

Link in bio

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Our little feathered nugget has landed back on The NY Times bestseller list this week so I thought I would take a moment to celebrate.

With the closing of a year, I usually I take the good with the bad and just move on into January. With my eye on summer of course.

But this past year has been unbelievable, I’ve so much to be grateful for, and I admit, that I am a little sad to see it go!

2023 is sure to bring challenges but also opportunities. So here is my belated cheers.

Happy New Year and thanks to everyone that has celebrated our little Owl!

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#knightowlbook #christopherdeniseillustrator #christyottavianobooks #foliojr #nytimesbestseller #npr #christopherdenise #knightowl #owl #kirkus #kirkusreviews #owlsofinstagram #childrensbook #kidlit #kidlitart #Illustratorsofinstagram #washingtonpost #amazon #barnesandnoble #indienext #booksellers #indienextpick #juniorlibraryguild #fuse8 #bookpage

Wow!

I am blown away that Knight Owl was included in this feature. Thank you Horn Book!

It was fascinating to be able to listen in on former Caldecott Committee members talking about books.

Check out the article in the Horn Book link in my bio.

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#caldecottcalling #knightowlbook #chistyottavianobooks #christopherdeniseillustrator #kidlit #picturebooks #kidlitillustrator #caldecott #hornbook #notesfromtheHornBook #HBfanfare22 #knightowl #HBfanfare #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders 

#rhodeisland #oceanstate #bookfestival #ribookfest #booksigning #bookevent #christopherdeniseillustrator #knightowlbook #christyottavianobooks #kidlit #childrensbooks #Kentucky #kybookfestival #kybookfestival2022 #fallevents #myjosephbeth #books_on_the_square

From Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
From Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
From Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Many people are surprised when I tell them that I work on my compositions and the individual elements of the illustration only in grey scale (black and white) before I take the step of adding color and lighting.

I love this part of the process! 

I’ve developed a few custom #adobe photoshop brushes that feel and act like charcoal pencils.

Old school/art school!

Happy Friday!

(sketches from ‘Knight Owl”-more info in my bio)

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#characterdeisgn #christopherdeniseillustrator #knightowlbook #drawing #adobeartist #digitalpainting #newyorktimesbestseller #kidlitart #drawing #sketching #childrensbook #christopherdenise #christyottavianobooks #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders #owl #artprocess

From Knight Owl by Christopher DeniseHappy Friday!

Another “from the drawing board to the book” post.

This one did not change very much at all from thumbnail to finish.

Even the text was pretty direct. From the get-go I knew that I wanted a page pause/punch line with something simple like “He was very good at his job”

Images from Knight Owl.

Links in my bio.

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#christopherdeniseillustrator #knightowlbook #chistyottavianobooks #picturebook #artprocess #digitalart #wacom #owl #owlsofinstagram #kidlitart #childrensbook #kidlit #sketch #processart #barnesandnoble #halloweenbooks

We partnered with the incredible designers at The Manhattan Toy Company to produce a fantastic, huggable size, Knight Owl plush!

The toy will not be available at Barnes & Noble until October but you can enter their Knight Owl Sweepstakes for a chance to win a plushy, an art print, a virtual school visit from me while enjoying a pizza party!

Click on the B&N Sweepstakes link in my bio for your chance to win!

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#nytimesbestseller #barnesandnoble #christopherdeniseillustrator #knightowlbook #kidlit #childrensbook #christyottavianobooks #owl #toy #manhattantoy #knightowl #plushiesofinstagram littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders #christopherdenise #bnbookawards #giveaway

These are two versions of the same moment in the story.

The top painting was created quickly to flesh out our proposal when my agent pitched the concept.

The bottom painting was created at the 11th hour as I submitted the final art for the book.

I did like the original painting but found that the characters and the environment had changed enough over the course of developing and drawing out the entire book that it warranted another pass. Still time well spent I think.

I couldn’t help but think of my years creating similar environments for Redwall!

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#childrensbook #productionart #kidlit #christopherdeniseillustrator #knightowl #christyottavianobooks #digitalpainting #redwall #redwallabbey #brianjacques #nytimesbestseller #owl #illustration #fantasy #dragon #dragonsofinstagram #christopherdenise #littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders

A tiny preview of something I’ve been working on (work in progress).

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#christopherdenise #christopherdeniseillustrator #WIP #bunny #bunniesofinstagram #snow #kidlit #kidlitart #illustratorsoninstagram #childrensbooks

Big News! WE MADE THE LIST!

Proud of this one, my author/illustrator debut.

I am so grateful for all the love Owl has been getting-THANK YOU READERS!

If you purchased Knight Owl, you can get a signed bookplate by sending me a self-addressed stamped envelope to:

Christopher Denise

P.O.Box 334

Barrington RI, 02806

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#reading #kidlitlist #nytimes #christopherdeniseillustrator #chrildrensbooks #nytimesbestseller #owl #knightowlbook #christyottavianobooks #christopherdenise littlebrownbooksforyoungreaders #foliojr #indienextlist #barnesandnoble