Denali Wildera  

Do fish wonder? My name is Denali Wildera, an illustrator who tells stories about who we are… you, me and the fish. Originally from Santa Cruz California I believe your environment, relationships and traumas shape your character. I am inspired by nature, storytelling, as well as being a teacher and coach. I make approachable and relatable work; something that has depth but is not hard to engage in. Everything you make has the opportunity to tell a story.



                                                                                         
             
Index  
1. Sunday Funnies 2. 3D Mural 3. Mapple Falls 4. Watercolor Comic 5. Animals in Greif 6. Pro Bug Catchers 7. Rooster tattoo 8. Raccoon Prints Contact      
Dwildera@gmail.com
Instagram
Linked In
 CV      
Skills

Photoshop

Spraypaint

Riso Print

Watercolor

Woodworking

Socal 

Education:
 
graduated Santa Cruz Highschool, CA, USA                      
                                                                                   2017-2021

Atending Willem de Kooning Academy
                                                                                   2023-present

Sunday Funnies


I was always inspired by strips like Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield and later Bone whose origin is also in a newspaper strip. I wanted to make my own for instagram, swiping makes these comics like this seem like the natural progression of sunday newspaper comics.
2025

Mural in 3D Space


Pre Instilation
Installed in the warehouse

 I was given the opportunity by Highway One Distribution to do a mural for their warehouse and mostly I focused on making it three dimensional with the layering of wood.
2025

Maple Falls Poster



I wanted to remember the wildlife and forests of Nicene Marks. A park I grew up hiking and playing in as a child. a space I adore.

2025

Watercolor  Comic


These posters were made while researching how animals experience grief.  Exploring how we project our ideas of death onto other species.
This comic was made after my grandmother passed away. It is a tribute to her that she was a big reason why I am drawing today.

2024

Animals in Grief




These posters were made while researching how animals experience grief.  Exploring how we project our ideas of death onto other species.

2024

Professional  Bug Catchers


Originally inspired by a shirt one of my friends has, I was drawn to the idea of kids wanting a profession. Trying to be mature and acting like adults. And I asked myself who would be professional bug catchers and the immediate answer was reptiles and amphibians.

2025

Rooster Tattoo


The design was done by me not the final tattoo, but when given the opportunity to design a tattoo for my brother I was very honored.
2025

Raccoon Print Project

Stamps that were made for the packaging of the racoon cards
Front and back of the Jumping racoon card
Poster that was commissioned because someone liked the racoon project.
All four pices of art for the racoon card collection
 This is a project made with Riso as well as my own custom stamps. I made an exclusive series of 100 sets of the cards with stories about my experience growing up around racoons as well as some information about them. then expanded by doing some posters as seen in the bottom left.
2023-2024