Mark Shaver is a digital illustrator whose freelance career has spanned twenty five years. He began his career working in a myriad of styles, from technical illustration to portrait art. Through years of editorial and advertising assignments, he developed his current signature style, combining whimsical concept with sophisticated design. He uses hard edged shapes, exaggerated proportions, patterns and digital effects to create a unique vision. In particular, patterns are created with traditional painting tools, and then scanned onto the computer, allowing him a variety of palettes to work with. Preliminary flat art is created in Adobe Illustrator; final rendering is completed in Photoshop. A stylus pen and pad are the digital tools with which he works.

Mark Shaver was born in Los Angeles. At age five, his family moved to Geneva, Switzerland, where they lived for five years. His father had lived in France for eighteen of his first twenty years, so it was a homecoming of sorts. Mark Shaver's early interest in art derived from his grandfather, who was fine artist, as well as a book illustrator. In fact, he published several children's books in which Mark and his brother and two sisters were the featured characters.

Returning to Los Angeles with his family at age ten, Mark, having attended French schools in Geneva, had to learn how to read in English. Needless to say, fourth grade was difficult. For several years after his return from Europe, French was the preferred language in the Shaver household, at least at the dinner table.

Mark Shaver graduated from UCLA with A BA in art history. Briefly, he attended graduate school in that subject, but his true interest was in the graphic arts. He worked as a technical illustrator for several years, and then enrolled in Otis Parsons School of Design in Los Angeles, where he received a degree in illustration. He worked at several design studios and agencies, and then launched his freelance career.

Mark Shaver lives in Los Angeles with his wife. He has a grown son, also living in Los Angeles.

Visit Mark Shaver's website for more information about his work.