Looks like you have JavaScript disabled. For the full Twine experience, you will need to re-enable it.

With more than 20 years of experience in illustration, animation, and environment design, my career has been defined by bringing ambitious ideas to life through rich visual storytelling across many audiences and industries. I’ve created art for globally recognized organizations and brands including DARPA and the United States Space Force as well as iconic entertainment franchises such as Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel. Whether crafting immersive educational experiences or short-form animated media, I’ve built a reputation for taking complex ideas and translating them into clear and inviting concepts and content. My work is guided by a passion for narrative-driven visual environments that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impression. I currently live and work in the mountains of Southwest Montana.…With more than 20 years of experience in illustration, animation, and environment design, my career has been defined by bringing ambitious ideas to life through rich visual storytelling across many audiences and industries. I’ve created art for globally recognized organizations and brands including DARPA and the United States Space Force as well as iconic entertainment franchises such as Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel. Whether crafting immersive educational experiences or short-form animated media, I’ve built a reputation for taking complex ideas and translating them into clear and inviting concepts and content. My work is guided by a passion for narrative-driven visual environments that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impression. I currently live and work in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

Steve Downer





With more than 20 years of experience in illustration, animation, and environment design, my career has been defined by bringing ambitious ideas to life through rich visual storytelling across many audiences and industries. I’ve created art for globally recognized organizations and brands including DARPA and the United States Space Force as well as iconic entertainment franchises such as Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel. Whether crafting immersive educational experiences or short-form animated media, I’ve built a reputation for taking complex ideas and translating them into clear and inviting concepts and content. My work is guided by a passion for narrative-driven visual environments that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impression. I currently live and work in the mountains of Southwest Montana.…With more than 20 years of experience in illustration, animation, and environment design, my career has been defined by bringing ambitious ideas to life through rich visual storytelling across many audiences and industries. I’ve created art for globally recognized organizations and brands including DARPA and the United States Space Force as well as iconic entertainment franchises such as Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel. Whether crafting immersive educational experiences or short-form animated media, I’ve built a reputation for taking complex ideas and translating them into clear and inviting concepts and content. My work is guided by a passion for narrative-driven visual environments that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impression. I currently live and work in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

Available to hire

With more than 20 years of experience in illustration, animation, and environment design, my career has been defined by bringing ambitious ideas to life through rich visual storytelling across many audiences and industries. I’ve created art for globally recognized organizations and brands including DARPA and the United States Space Force as well as iconic entertainment franchises such as Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel. Whether crafting immersive educational experiences or short-form animated media, I’ve built a reputation for taking complex ideas and translating them into clear and inviting concepts and content. My work is guided by a passion for narrative-driven visual environments that connect with audiences and leave a lasting impression. I currently live and work in the mountains of Southwest Montana.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Work Experience

Lead Illustrator at TheDifference A2C; Bozeman Studio

January 1, 2014 - December 31, 2025

Created illustration art and animated assets for over 100 projects; Led storyboarding and narrative design departments; Pioneered in-house artist development program; Led talent search and onboarding/training program for junior artists; Worked as project manager coordinating multiple artists to shepherd projects from conception to completion; Won new clients and expanded the range of work for the company, directly contributing to growth; Pioneered use of new 3D and motion design tools studio-wide; Served as art director and production designer on award-winning work for global clients.

Founder/Owner at Downer Illustration Studio LLC

January 1, 2011 - Present

Operated illustration and color art services focusing on clients in the highly competitive and volatile comics industry; expanded into animation, toy and game art, and YouTube content areas as well; Worked on high-profile streaming content from Disney, Lucasfilm and Marvel including: Marvel Get-to-Know; Star Wars: Icons of the Force; Disney Read-Along; Created art for internationally-published puzzle games including the Break-In series; Retained clients year-to-year and steadily won higher-profile work, starting from independent comics and moving up to top-selling DC Comics titles such as Superman, Batgirl, Wonder Woman and Action Comics; Worked on licensed comic book properties including Sonic the Hedgehog, the Terrifics, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, Sons of Anarchy and many more.

Designer/Illustrator at Wild West Shirt Co

January 1, 2009 - December 31, 2010

Created original illustrations for apparel lines in shops nationwide, including best-selling designs sold in national parks.

Freelance Color Artist at Hi-FI Colour & Design LLC

January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2013

Worked with iconic comic book artists including George Perez, Nicola Scott, Howard Porter and Jerry Ordway to create art for iconic properties including Spider-Man, Batman, Justice League, Birds of Prey, Transformers and many more.