Pencils and Watercolors

Lately I have been using a 4 or 6b pencil more frequently in my work.
I still use a fine ink line for certain projects but find the pencils lend a more organic feel
to the work which is perfect for some subject matter.

Here are some recent pieces. Please click on image to enlarge.

Adventures in Watercolor / Sick Bell Hop

I decided to try my new brushes out and settled in with a sheet of bristol and my watercolors.
I really don't have anything against bell hops, this just kind of happened.
You can definitely hear the guy with the pipe saying something like..."My God Man...Get A Grip!"
or maybe ...."See here my dear man, do hurry and fetch our bags!"

One of these days I'll have to learn to splice larger pieces together in photoshop. In the meantime, here it is in two pieces.
Please click on image to enlarge.

Duck Blood Soup & other favorites

I am currently accumulating recipes of various dishes that surrounded me while growing up in Erie, PA.  Czernina  aka: Duck Blood Soup , is a Polish dish which was served at Stan's Dinette on 12th and Parade Street. 

I have no idea when these little recipe books will see print, if at all. It's a little side project.
However, I liked this image so I thought I would post it.

Please click on image to enlarge.

Sketchbooks & New Materials

It's always a joy to open up a box containing new art materials such as brushes, paints, paper etc.,
I just received a package yesterday and dove into it, ready to have some fun!
For years I have basically used a 2b pencil for most of my sketching and drawing. However, I just
got into using an H and I have to tell you I was amazed how this little change altered my approach.
It just feels good.
Shown here are various pages from my sketchbook. Some are done with the H pencil and others are brush and ink sketches which I use as an exercise to loosen up each day.

The one titled "New People" was just some random sketching done on a page. I then inked it and colored it in photoshop and made a mock book cover which I just might use. Not sure yet.

Also shown is a recent cover I did in ink and watercolor for The Greater Wilmington Business Journal. Thanks Nina for the art direction!
Please click on images to enlarge.

TODAY: Poor Man's Garden Party

Come to the "Poor Man's Garden Party" 2pm - 7pm which is hosted by the Goat & Compass Pub located at 710 N. 4th Street in Wilmington, NC. The party benefits Nourish NC. There will be live music, live painting, BBQ, Guinness and much more. For more info go to the G&C website www.goatandcompass.com
My wife Chris will be selling her jewelry and I will be selling paintings and cardboard art including new additions to the popular "PROFILES" series.
The pieces shown here will be available. Please click on image to enlarge.
Chris's work can be found at Goodsmith's under C2 designs  www.goodsmits.com

Hope to see you there!!

Made in NC this Weekend!

The Brooklyn Arts Center  here in Wilmington, NC will be hosting "Made in NC" this Friday 3pm-9pm and Saturday 11am-6pm. A bunch of great art from artists of North Carolina. Check out their site www.brooklynartsnc.com  for more info and a look at the artists. Stop by and visit me!

Here are a few pieces I will be featuring for sale. Please click image to enlarge

New Cardboard Pieces!

Shown here are some new cardboard pieces I just finished. All are done in acrylic and ink on 9 x 12
sheets of cardboard signed and ready to ship. I will hold onto these for three days and then they are off to a retailer so act quick if you are interested. E-mail me at markweber2@gmail.com

BTW, I will be setting up a blog soon totally devoted to these cardboard pieces. Thanks for checking in.

Please click on image to enlarge.