Abbott V

🤠Blue Cowboy🔵 🍔Grill Master🥩 📚Research Rat📚 🎨Oil-on-Canvas Painter🖼️ 🚗Visionary Driver🚗

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The Scots-Ogre, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

36 inches x 48 inches

The Prince isn't charming. The Princess isn't sleeping. The sidekick isn't helping. The ogre is the hero. Fairy tales will never be the same again.

The tenth entry in the “Fictional Character Portrait” series is the all-star ogre, Shrek! We see Shrek in his home swamp seeing the viewers in honor the franchise’s 25th anniversary. I came up with the title “The Scots-Ogre”, because Shrek has a distinct Scottish accent.

Here are facts about the first installment of the “Shrek” film series.

The movie was loosely based on the 1990 children’s picture book, “Shrek!” by William Steig.

It featured the voice talents of Mike Myers (Wayne’s World, Austin Powers), Eddie Murphy (Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Mulan, Dr. Dolittle), Cameron Diaz (The Mask, There's Something About Mary, Being John Malkovich), and John Lithgow (Footloose, Harry and the Hendersons).

It was theatrically released by DreamWorks Pictures on May 18, 2001 to widespread critical acclaim and massive commercial success, becoming a foundational animated classic.

It is best known for its witty script, pop-culture references, and broad appeal to both children and adults.

It won the inaugural Academy Award for Best Animated Feature (Aron Warner).

“All Star”, performed by Smash Mouth, regained popularity after being featured in Shrek, where it was played over the opening credits. The filmmakers for Shrek had originally used the song as a placeholder for the opening credits and intended to replace it with an original composition by Matt Mahaffey's band Self that would mimic the feel of "All Star", entitled "Stay Home". However, DreamWorks executive Jeffrey Katzenberg suggested for them to use "All Star" over the sequence instead. Although Smash Mouth was initially apprehensive about being involved with what was considered a family film, DreamWorks was insistent on including the band's music in the film. After being granted an early screening of Shrek, the band members were impressed and ultimately agreed to license "All Star" to appear in the film. They also performed a new rendition of the Monkees' "I'm a Believer" for the ending scene. Vicky Jenson, the co-director of the film, explained that "All Star" perfectly fits the tone and personality of its titular ogre (voiced by Mike Myers), who is "happy in his solitary existence and has no clue that he has a lot to learn about it".

This painting in the “Fictional Character Portrait” is the best one yet!

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The Scots-Ogre by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

The Scots-Ogre — artwork by abbvan98 on DeviantArt. The Prince isn't charming. The Princess isn't sleeping. The sidekick isn't helping. The

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The Swashbuckling Indiana Jones, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

36 inches x 48 inches

If adventure has a name... it must be the next fictional character appearing in this portrait, Indiana Jones.

The portrait is set in the Peruvian jungle, where “Raiders of the Lost Ark” began.

The Indiana Jones franchise revolves around the adventures of Dr. Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones, Jr., a fictional archaeologist. Harrison Ford portrays the character in all five films. George Lucas created the film series, which began in 1981 with Raiders of the Lost Ark. A prequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, was released in 1984. The series continued with Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade in 1989 and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull in 2008. The fifth film, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, was released in 2023. Steven Spielberg directed the first four films, collaborating closely with Lucas during their production. James Mangold directed the fifth and final film.

The series has been nominated for 14 Academy Awards, of which they have won 7.

Raiders of the Lost Ark won 4 Academy Awards for Best Film Editing (Michael Kahn), Best Art Direction (Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Michael D. Ford), Best Sound (Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Roy Charman), and Best Visual Effects (Richard Edlund, Kit West, Bruce Nicholson, Joe Johnston). It was also given a Special Achievement Award for Best Sound Effects Editing (Ben Burtt, Richard L. Anderson).

The Temple of Doom won the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects (Dennis Muren, Michael J. McAlister, Lorne Peterson, George Gibbs).

The Last Crusade won the Academy Award for Best Sound Effects Editing (Richard Hymns, Ben Burtt).

It took nearly a month to paint this portrait, but I considered adding more impressionistic elements to it.

This is the ninth overall entry in the “Fictional Character Portrait” series.

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The Swashbuckling Indiana Jones by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

The Swashbuckling Indiana Jones — artwork by abbvan98 on DeviantArt. If adventure has a name... it must be the next fictional character in t

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Apple Park, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Watercolor on canvas

To commemorate Apple’s 50th year, I created this watercolor painting of Apple Park!

As the corporate headquarters of Apple Inc., Apple Park is located in Cupertino, California.

The campus opened in April 2017 and features a unique circular design by Norman Foster, often called “the spaceship.”

Covering 360 acres, Apple Park accommodates more than 12,000 employees in a central four-story building spanning around 64 acres.

Steve Jobs designed Apple Park as a retreat from the conventional corporate setting, with 80 percent of the site dedicated to green spaces and drought-resistant plants. An artificial pond in the central courtyard adds to the tranquility.

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Apple Park by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

Apple Park — artwork by abbvan98 on DeviantArt. [EMOTE] [EMOTE]To commemorate Apple’s 50th year, I created this watercolor painting of #appl

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The Gulls of Panama City Beach, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Watercolor on canvas

My very first watercolor-on-canvas painting is set in the Panama City Beach Shores.

As you can see, there are 44 laughing gulls standing in the tides on this beach.

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The Gulls of Panama City Beach by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

The Gulls of Panama City Beach — artwork by abbvan98 on DeviantArt. My very first watercolor-on-canvas painting is set in the Panama City Be

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The Angels of Justice, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

36 inches x 48 inches

Sugar, spice, and everything nice-these were the ingredients chosen to create the perfect little girl. However, Professor Utonium accidentally added an extra ingredient to the concoction: CHEMICAL X! Consequently, the Powerpuff Girls were born. With their extraordinary powers, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have dedicated their lives to combating crime and evil forces!

Well, what do you know? My latest and greatest oil-on-canvas portrait features the three vibrant supergirls, brought to life by the renowned cartoonist Craig McCracken. Following the immense success of "The Powerpuff Girls," he embarked on a creative journey, creating other animated shows such as Cartoon Network's "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends," Disney Channel and Disney XD's "Wander Over Yonder," and Netflix's "Kid Cosmic."

In this portrait, the girls are captured mid-flight, gracefully soaring around the city of Townsville. Each girl radiates a unique and radiant aura, contributing to the overall dynamic and colorful composition. The downtown area is painted in shades of blue, harmonizing beautifully with the girls' vibrant presence.

This artwork is the eighth piece in the "Fictional Character Portrait" series.

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Spiritual Hummingbirds, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

This stunning oil-on-canvas painting depicts five hummingbirds in a log cabin, symbolizing life's themes of joy, love, healing, resilience, and spiritual guidance.

Inspired by the perseverance of everyday people, it reminds us to cherish each moment and find beauty despite hardships.

Commissioned by a dedicated waitress at the La Sierra Mexican Restaurant in Andersonville, Tennessee.

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A Volleyball Game of Gold and Silver, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

This painting takes place inside a volleyball stadium with the red, yellow and blue crowd cheering and spectating. It is an exciting evening for a Women's Volleyball game (best-of-five) at the Shiny V-B Stadium. From the left corner of the field are the Silver Stars and from the right corner are the Golden Roses. All of the characters in the painting are so far out that it is hard for the viewers to view.

This painting was commissioned by none other than Gabby Sharp.

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The Electrifying Pikachu, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

36 inches x 48 inches

I choose you! Get out your Poké Ball, because the next fictional character portrait is Pikachu from the beloved Pokémon franchise. And to celebrate its 30th anniversary, I challenged myself to paint a full scale portrait of the mascot. On the bottom right of the portrait, you’ll see the Japanese symbols (ピカチュウ) meaning Pikachu in Japanese.

The National Pokédex indicates that: “It raises its tail to check its surroundings, but may be struck by a lightning bolt in this position. It gathers electricity from the atmosphere, and uses it to roast berries, communicate with other Electric-type Pokémon, and attack its opponents. Groups of Pikachu having their tails raised can inadvertedly cause lightning storms.”

Classified as an Electric-type Pokémon, Pikachu is a large yellow mouse with a lightning bolt-shaped tail, and red sacs on its cheek which can generate large amounts of electricity. Originally designed to be the first part of a three-stage evolution line in Red and Blue, Pikachu evolves into Raichu through the use of a "Thunder Stone" item, with Raichu intended to be able to evolve into 'Gorochu'.

However 'Gorochu' was removed due to cartridge space concerns, and a pre-evolution for Pikachu, Pichu, was later added in the sequel titles Pokémon Gold and Silver.

Pikachu is widely considered to be the most popular and well-known Pokémon species, largely due to its appearance in the Pokémon anime television series as the companion of series protagonist Ash Ketchum. Pikachu has been well received by critics, with particular praise given to its cute design, and it has been regarded as an icon of both the Pokémon franchise and Japanese pop culture as a whole.

Pikachu is the iconic mascot for the global Pokémon franchise, chosen for its bright yellow color and universally appealing, non-gendered design, unlike the initially considered Clefairy. Its prominent role in the anime solidified its status, appearing in various forms, from inflatable costumes at events like the Macy's Parade and "Pikachu Outbreaks" in Japan, to being an official envoy for Japan's Expo 2025 bid.

How Pikachu became the mascot:

— Original Idea: Clefairy was initially considered to be the mascot, but its pink color was seen as too feminine for a global audience.

— Anime's Influence: Producers chose Pikachu because its vibrant yellow color was eye-catching and appealed to both boys and girls, making it easily recognizable.

— Viral Popularity: Pikachu's popularity exploded through the anime, especially with Ash Ketchum, cementing its role as the franchise's face.

— Game Integration: Pokémon Yellow made Pikachu the starter Pokémon, further integrating it into the core game experience.

Pikachu as a real-world mascot:

— Event Appearances: Pikachu appears as large, inflatable, or foam costumes at numerous events, from toy fairs to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

— "Pikachu Outbreaks": Large-scale events in Japan feature a multitude of Pikachu mascots, drawing huge crowds.

— Diplomatic Role: In 2017, Pikachu and Hello Kitty were appointed as Special Envoys for Japan's bid for the 2025 World Expo in Osaka.

This is the seventh painting in the “Fictional Character Portrait” series.

Disclaimer: This is fan art. I do not own the rights to the Pokémon franchise.

©2026 Pokémon. ©1995 - 2026 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. TM, ®Nintendo.

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The Snow Moon, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas painting

My next moon painting called "The Snow Moon".

Here's a fact: The Snow Moon is the full moon in February, named by Native American tribes and early settlers for the heavy snow that typically falls during this time in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also known as the Hunger Moon due to difficult winter hunting conditions, and symbolizes resilience, inner strength, and preparation for spring. This moon painting is set in the wintertime at night. How majestic!

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Triple D (or the Dynamic Dinosaur Dash), Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

My third painting of 2026 is an original one... set in prehistoric times when dinosaur ruled the Earth.

It features three various dinosaurs (a green Brachiosaurus, a brown Tyrannosaurus rex and a golden Triceratops) competing for the cup in a dinosaur marathon, while surviving the big erupting volcano that threatens to wipe out the competitors... Permanently!!

This painting will make you run a marathon again!

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The Eccentric Bugs Bunny, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas

36 inches x 48 inches

What’s up, Docs? It’s Bugs Bunny on an oil on canvas painting so sophisticating that it will make you say the catchphrase!

In this portrait, Bugs is shown to the viewers eating a carrot. The background is the concentric circles used in the introduction of Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies cartoons changed every release season. Other than the first set of rings, which was blue to reflect the introduction of three-strip Technicolor, the colors of the rings had no significance other than indicating which release season it was released in.

Without a doubt, “The Eccentric Bugs Bunny” is a great addition to my Fictional Character Portrait collection!

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A Bernese Mountain Dog's Snow Day, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2026

Oil on canvas painting

To start off 2026, I had to paint a commission from my brother, Jackson and my sister in law, Amelia… a Bernese Mountain dog enjoying a day in the snow. Take a look at all the snowflakes falling from the clouds. Inspired by Zion's snow day, this painting is another love letter to Bernese Mountain dogs everywhere!!

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Bovine Country, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2024

Oil-on-canvas painting

Welcome to Bovine Country, a sanctuary where different bovines roam free and chew their cuds! This oil-on-canvas painting has a spectacular grassland and farm scenery. This farmhouse has a bovine skull on the top center and a silo on the left side. This farm, which is secured by a big white barrier, isn't like most of your "average, everyday" farms, this farm has different species of bovines! And we all know that a group of bovines is called a herd, a father is called a bull, a mother is called a cow, and a offspring is called a calf.

Here is a list of bovines that appear on the painting:

Lowland Anoa (Bubalus depressicornis) — Fact: Lowland anoas are impressive swimmers. They have been spotted swimming long distances to offshore islands

Banteng (also known as the Tembadau) (Bos javanicus) — Fact: The banteng shows extensive sexual dimorphism; adult bulls are generally dark brown to black, larger and more sturdily built than adult cows, which are thinner and usually pale brown or chestnut red.

Plains Bison (Bison bison bison) — Fact: The American bison is the largest land mammal in North America.

Western or Lowland Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus) — Fact: Bongos are the largest forest antelope.

Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) — Fact: The horns of the cape buffalo are an excellent indication of age and gender. The females and young males do not have the hard shielding that protects the base of the skull in large adult males.

Cattle (Bos taurus) — Fact: They eat hay and grass, which are really hard to digest, so they chew them TWICE! The ruminant technique is called “cud chewing”. Example: A cow chews up the grass and swallows it. The food goes into her stomach where it starts to digest... but then, she then coughs it back up and chews it again before swallowing it for the last time.

Common Eland (also known as the Southern Eland or Eland Antelope) (Taurotragus oryx) — Fact: The eland is the largest African bovid, but the slowest antelope. It can only run at 25 miles per hour, but it can jump 10 feet from a standing start.

Gaur (Bos gaurus) — Fact: It is the largest species among the wild cattle and the bovids.

Gayal (also known as the Drung Ox or the Mithun) (Bos frontalis) — Fact: Gayal are not milked or put to work but given supplementary care while grazing in the woods, until they are ritually slaughtered or killed for local consumption.

Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) — Fact: They are capable of reaching 690 lbs and of having horns as long as 6 feet.

Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) — Fact: The nilgai is the biggest of the Asian antelopes.

Lowland Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii) — Fact: They follow baboons, who discard the fruit and leaves that the nyala eats.

Saola (also called the Spindlehorn, the Asian Unicorn, or infrequently, the Vu Quang Bovid) (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) — Fact: Saolas have only been known to science since 1992!

Sitatunga (also known as the Marshbuck) (Tragelaphus spekii) — Fact: Sitatunga are swamp-dwelling antelopes and excellent swimmers. Their elongated, wide-splayed hooves help them walk on soft terrain such as swamps and marshes.

Yak (also known as the Tartary Ox, the Grunting Ox, the Hairy Cattle,  and the Domestic Yak) (Bos grunniens) — Fact: They can withstand frigid temperatures that can reach as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Add this painting to your collection, because it will make you say "Holy Cow!"

Finished on November 13, 2024

Bovine Country by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

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Thank you @auroraborealiscosmos and everyone who got me to 25 reblogs!

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The Vanderwagen-Gosser Shamrock, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2025

Oil-on-canvas painting

To wrap up 2025, I decided to paint a special painting for my Grandma Gracie’s 87th birthday, a nifty green family shamrock.

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The Vanderwagen-Gosser Shamrock by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

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The Original Cat and Mouse Duo, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2025

Oil on canvas portrait

24 inches x 30 inches

The next fictional characters appearing on this portrait project are Tom & Jerry, the cat and mouse rivalry. Look at their smiling faces, that means they’re taking a break from their rivalry and striking a pose in a themed portrait! The background resembles their classic cartoon opening sequence.

Best known for its 161 theatrical short films produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series centers on the rivalry between a cat named Tom and a mouse named Jerry. Many shorts also feature several recurring characters.

Created in 1940 as the MGM cartoon studio struggled to compete with Walt Disney Productions and Leon Schlesinger Productions, Tom and Jerry's initial short-film titled "Puss Gets the Boot" proved successful in theaters and garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Short Subject (Cartoon). Hanna and Barbera later directed a total of 114 Tom and Jerry shorts for its initial MGM run from 1940 to 1958. During this time, they won seven Academy Awards for Best Animated Short Film, tying for first place with Walt Disney's Silly Symphonies with the most awards in the category. After the MGM cartoon studio closed in 1957, MGM revived the series with Gene Deitch directing an additional thirteen Tom and Jerry shorts for Rembrandt Films in Czechoslovakia, from 1961 to 1962. Tom and Jerry became the highest-grossing animated short-film series of that time, overtaking Looney Tunes. Chuck Jones produced another 34 shorts with Sib Tower 12 Productions between 1963 and 1967. Five more shorts have been produced since 2001, making a total of 166 shorts.

A number of spin-offs have been made, including the television series "The Tom and Jerry Show" (1975), "The Tom and Jerry Comedy Show" (1980–1982), "Tom & Jerry Kids" (1990–1993), "Tom and Jerry Tales" (2006–2008), and "The Tom and Jerry Show" (2014–2021). In 1992, the first feature-length film based on the series, "Tom and Jerry: The Movie", was released. Thirteen direct-to-video films have been produced since 2002. In 2019, a musical adaptation of the series, titled "Tom and Jerry: Purr-Chance to Dream", debuted in Japan, in advance of Tom and Jerry's 80th anniversary. In 2021, the live-action/animated hybrid film “Tom and Jerry” was released, while a Chinese-American computer-animated film, “Tom and Jerry: Forbidden Compass”, premiered in June 2025.

Tom is a grey-blue and white anthropomorphic (but usually silent) domestic short haired tuxedo British cat who debuted in the 1940 MGM animated short "Puss Gets the Boot". The cat was initially known as "Jasper" during his debut in the short; however, beginning with his next appearance in "The Midnight Snack" he was known as "Tom" or “Thomas”.

Jerry is an anthropomorphic (but usually silent) brown house mouse, who also debuted in the 1940 MGM animated short "Puss Gets the Boot". The character was not referred to by name in his debut cartoon; Hanna said that the mouse's original name as "Jinx", while Barbera claimed the mouse went unnamed in his first appearance. A 1940 article from MGM's Short Story magazine, however, would refer to the character as "Pee-Wee".

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The Original Cat and Mouse Duo by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

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The Vanderwagen Christmas Tannenbaum, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2025

Oil on canvas painting

To celebrate Christmas, I thought about unveiling my painting of my Christmas tree design with yellow lights, red circular ornaments and a star on top that glows.

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The Vanderwagen Christmas Tannenbaum by abbvan98 on DeviantArt

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The Golden Bonsai, Abbott Vanderwagen, 2025

Oil on canvas painting

My 60th painting is indeed… “The Golden Bonsai”! This Japanese bush has golden leaves and golden branches. And to be clear… It’s worth a fortune!!

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The Golden Bonsai by abbvan98 on DeviantArt