The Evolving Artist / Breakthroughs etc.,

There is a small part of me that has always envied those illustrators and fine artists who seemed to have found their signature style early on and stuck with it throughout their entire careers. I have experimented with many approaches over the years, some successful, some not so successful.
Switching styles and not having one signature style can be pure hell when it comes to marketing.
Yet there are many advantages to being able to bend this way or that in order to bring in a steady stream of work. After all, one must pay the bills.

Over the past few years I have been trying to nail down an honest feel to my work which would allow me to meld my love of both color and line. I enjoy the loose feel of a brush and have been taking this same approach to my drawing, particularly over the past couple years.
Many times a breakthrough can happen by mistake but more often than not, it is the result of hard work, failures, hard work, a little success, more hard work and failures....trial and error if you get my drift.

Shown here is a small piece I did which I am very happy with and it came so easily and effortlessly that I had it made me smile.  It is shown here, first as a b&w wash and ink, then colored digitally in a couple different ways. It's a little breakthrough I feel and a nice way to start the week.

Busy Sunday

I spent much of Sunday working on an assignment and playing with my watercolors.
As far as the assignment goes, I need to finish it up today and will post it when able.
In the meantime, here are three watercolor sketches I did. I paint pretty much everything in full color
and then save it in color and in grayscale. I also experimented with coloring the Paris Street scene
digitally. I am no photoshop guru and really don't care to be. But, I do enjoy playing with the "screen" option which you can find under the Layer tool box. An example of this coloring tool can be seen in the last version of the Paris Street scene.

Please click on the images to enlarge.

Dis n Dat

It's been quite awhile since I have posted anything. I have been fairly busy with the comic work
as well as some video and social media work, illustrating images for both.
It's funny how things come and go in waves. My work with digital color is still popular but I have been getting more and more requests for the traditional watercolor work and I really enjoy the chance
to branch out more. Shown here is a variety of work that I have done over the last month. Some of it is comic based, some digitally colored and also as mentioned,  the watercolor work.
Hope to be posting more soon. Other work can be viewed at www.altpick.com/markweber

Please click on images to enlarge. 

Children's Book Illustration

I have illustrated a number of children's books over the years and have contributed to various children's publications including Cricket, Cicada and Highlights for Children. 
I have worked in a variety of styles and mediums over this span of time and especially enjoy working in watercolor, gouache and pen & ink. 
Here is just a sampling of some of my work. If you would like to see more please call , send me an e-mail or contact The Herman Agency www.hermanagencyinc.com   Enjoy!

Please click on image to enlarge.

Robots!

One of my favorite subjects to draw and paint are robots. I am mailing out 12 packages today to various art directors and creatives and on the back of each envelope I have adhered a hand drawn robot which can be peeled and stuck to any other surface.
I have drawn these in Sharpie markers and went for that "off register" 3D type of look.
Here are a few. See more robots and their names at  www.altpick.com/markweber

I am available for specialty holiday cards. Give me a call and we can talk!

Holiday Sales & Services

Well, we all know that the holidays are upon us. I have many originals and prints available.
Besides taking commissions for paintings, I have added caricatures to my list. I took an ad out in the local magazine WILMA which I have attached it here. All caricatures are done in ink and watercolor on archival paper. Please contact me for more information in regard to sizes, prices and turnaround time.Please click on all images to enlarge.

The three originals and prints of different sizes of them are available. If interested, please let me know and I will forward you prices. markweber2@gmail.com
Critters of NC - acrylic and ink on masonite. measures 23 3/4 x 13 1/4 ..
Greetings from My Bathroom - acrylic and ink on wood. measures 9 1/4 x 23 3/4..
Big Tex Burns- acrylic and ink on wood. measures 12 1/8 x 23 3/4 .