About Us

 

I’M DAN, CREATOR OF THE WIZARD'S VAULT

Before I became an artist, my creative journey was already unfolding through the places I explored and the cultures that inspired me. I spent years traveling, but the most impactful time was when I lived and worked in Japan as the manager of an English school. I was captivated by the art, the storytelling, and especially the incredible attention to detail found in everyday life. That mindset spoke to me deeply, even before I called myself an artist. To this day, that influence can be seen in everything I design, from wire-wrapped jewelry to fantasy dice and sculptures.

My work blends the wonder of fantasy with the precision of Steampunk, inspired by both my love of Dungeons & Dragons and the aesthetic principles I connected with in Japan. Here's how it all began.

 

You know that feeling when someone says, “You can’t do it”? That’s exactly how I felt when my boss told me the business I wanted to start would never work. Two days later, I quit my job in finance. That was April 2008.

Just before that, my wife Catherine had taken a short workshop with friends to learn how to make wire-wrapped rings. When she brought her creations to work, her colleagues loved them and asked to buy them. I got her all the tools and materials she needed, and we opened an Etsy shop called Catherinette Rings. Orders started coming in almost every day. I figured I’d try making something myself and see what happened.

My designs started selling well. One day while helping my friend Phil move, he told me my work looked like something from this style called Steampunk. I looked it up and was blown away. It was the first time in years I felt truly inspired. A few weeks later, I left my job for good.

The first few months were hard. I struggled to pay the bills, but online sales kept growing. I developed a unique style and built a strong following. My Facebook page quickly hit over 10,000 followers and now has more than 100,000. I became known for using wire, gemstones, and taxidermy glass eyes in my Steampunk jewelry, something no one else was really doing at the time.

I’ve always been a huge fan of Dungeons & Dragons. That’s actually how I met Phil. Back in high school, he noticed I was holding a dragon drawing and asked if I played D&D. We’ve been good friends ever since.

Naturally, it didn’t take long for my love of fantasy to mix with my art. I decided to sculpt a Steampunk version of one of my favorite monsters, the Beholder. It went viral and brought in a flood of custom orders. That piece led to a whole collection of mechanical creatures like spiders, cicadas, praying mantises, and more.

Then, in July 2009, I got an email from Art Donovan.

“I’m a great admirer of your Steampunk rings and jewelry, and I was wondering if you'd like to exhibit them in the world’s first Museum Exhibition of Steampunk Art in England this Fall.”

It felt unreal. When I visited the exhibition, the line to get in stretched far down the street. People were coming to see my work alongside some of the most respected artists in the genre. I contributed several pieces, including the Steampunk Beholder.

After that, I was invited to show my work in more exhibitions and was featured in books including:

• Steampunk: The Art of Retro Futurism

• 1,000 Steampunk Creations

• Steampunk: An Illustrated History

• The Art of Steampunk (Revised Second Edition)

Since then, I’ve had some incredible experiences. My jewelry was worn by Allison Scagliotti on Warehouse 13. I’ve sold pieces to celebrities like Courtney Love Cobain. I collaborated with the band Jardin Mécanique. My work appeared in the web series L.A.R.P.S. on Geek & Sundry and I was featured in the documentary Steampunk Connection.

But the most unbelievable part is that I’ve been able to live from my art.

Before launching The Wizard’s Vault, people often told me my sculptures looked like Modrons. When I looked them up, I discovered these fascinating clockwork creatures from the early days of D&D. I built a dice tray featuring a Steampunk Modron and posted it online. A few months later, I was flooded with traffic. Wil Wheaton had shared it.

It’s amazing how my love for Dungeons & Dragons, which inspired my earliest drawings, eventually led me to design an entire line of fantasy art, dice sets, magical item kits, and accessories.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support has helped me live a creative life I once only dreamed of.

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my story, it’s this. If you're truly passionate about something, never let anyone tell you what you can or can't do. The world needs more original ideas, and you might be the one to make them real.

Now go forth and create something amazing.

If you have questions or need anything, feel free to reach out. I'm always happy to help.

Daniel Proulx