Mike Werner Draws

Meet My Bot

2011-11-23T12:46:00.000-08:00

Had a blast illustrating the energetic interactive workshop held by Gary Hirsch and Daryl Olson from On Your Feet last week. Not only were they fun to watch and chock-full of unique, usable insights and ideas, but I received a bonus additional weapon to push me over the top: my very own Inspiration Bot. He's pictured here and you bet he's got a featured perch of high status at MikeDraws Headquarters! He's one of many bots out there and you need to discover his story here.

Bespectacled Bird brings Thanksgiving Wishes

2011-11-23T12:15:00.000-08:00

Enlisted the help of this big guy as well as music from Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" to throw a little self-promo as well as Thanksgiving wishes to you- cheers to all!

Where do Ideas Go?

2011-10-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a hapless soul who carelessly tosses ideas aside without jotting them down for keeps. And it looks like these crunched up concepts don't plan on leaving a paper trail!

MarkerBall

2011-09-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

If Billy Beane could draw up his ideal player, would it be this corn-fed prospect who can blister the ball, handle the glove, then flash a 1000 watt smile that I captured for a Minor League program a few years back?

Logo Brings more Pow to the Pacific Palisades!

2011-07-25T10:13:00.000-07:00

Logo for the 2011 Pacific Palisades Rocks the Fourth concert and fireworks show. Named "Splash" in a contest of over 70 entries, this Stratocaster- wielding dolphin oversaw a concert that attracted a crowd of over 5,000. Special thanks to my brother- in- law Keith Turner, not just a fine lawyer and organizer for the event, but also served counsel as creative director for the project!

High Mileage Markers

2011-07-14T10:18:00.000-07:00

Had a blast working for some terrific facilitators and their clients around the country the last few months, power sketching tremendous batches of great ideas and innovations. You bet I count myself lucky to work with so many smart and nice people!

Ideation Lighter Fluid

2011-06-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

...and listen to what Consumer Experience Expert Mike Wittenstein says about my work here.

Video Testimonial

2011-02-17T21:33:00.000-08:00

Excited to receive this video testimonial from Mike Wittenstein. I worked for him at his Storymining session for his client recently. Watch it here. My first opportunity to work for him and he was terrific: he generated lots of great ideas and insights for his client that kept me and my markers jumping! Find out more about Mike here.

And here's a quick visual I sketched after the session to capture the experience...

Portfolio building at the Behance Network

2011-02-09T22:41:00.000-08:00

Signed on to The Behance Network and started building my portfolio. Kicked things off with event marketing illustrations. Take a minute and take a look...

Snowmaggedon, Meet Saladaggedon!

2011-02-01T15:17:00.000-08:00

So you've stocked up on beer and chips in preparation for the big blizzard. Don't forget a visit to the produce aisle, plus a bonus stop for mass quantities of salad dressing!

The Hills are Alive

2010-12-21T19:22:00.000-08:00

Winter chill-induced visions: sleds... snowmen... plaid...

Rustle. Rustle. Gobble! Gobble!

2010-11-24T09:18:00.000-08:00

Spent the weekend visiting the in-laws and making a slideshow.

Won't earn Weekend Warrior status at this pace!

Brush with Painting

2010-11-08T20:43:00.001-08:00

Exploring acrylic painting. I'm pleased with the results and hope the recipient is too!

Logo for a Good Cause

2010-10-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

The “PASS IT ON” program from the Spring Lake Sports League in Lincolnwood, IL, collects and donates gently used sporting equipment and uniforms to schools and recreation centers in Chicago’s most needy neighborhoods. They help kids have fun!

Here's a shot of several versions of the finished logo and the rough sketches that proceeded it.

Big Sale?

2010-10-22T15:09:00.000-07:00

Just heard word all Cafe Press stuff is 15% off through Saturday. Don't know if its only for the 'featured' stuff, but a good excuse to pick up some goods... especially from the Graveyard Shift!

MikeDraws Merchandise

2010-10-19T10:50:00.000-07:00

This shirt features a unique pencil skeleton ( pencil-eton? ) working his fingers to the bone, trying to beat that final deadline. Available printed on a variety of colors and styles of shirts, mugs, and other merchandise from Cafe Press.

Postcards are Here

2010-09-03T08:31:00.000-07:00

Just back from local printer Clark Graphics. These will serve as a hard-copy accompaniment to the slides show posted earlier. Wow, synergy?

Art that makes Ideas Sing

2010-08-08T22:33:00.001-07:00

Are your presentations whistling Dixie? High time to let them howl with some full-throated illustration!

Art that makes Ideas Sing

View more videos from Mike Werner.

Anybody Home?

2010-06-28T20:50:00.000-07:00

Come in and look around. Help yourself to a slice o' onion, pot a plant or check the oil.

Images for household product concepts.

Show'em How its Done

2010-02-15T20:14:00.000-08:00

The latest postcard promotion demonstrating that in order to persuade a client/customer just how your idea works, a accurate and attractive picture sure helps. Done quickly and within budget sure helps too! Got a new idea, a way to improve your existing product, or just need some slick graphics to impress? I'd like to help you out!

Some of the Guests at the New Years Party

2010-01-25T20:39:00.000-08:00

Take a look and give a little support to: Glorified Gopher, The Chicago Reader, Peaches & Coconuts, Egg on Your Face & Deli in Your Belly , Tyler's Tender.

Creating a Holiday Card

2010-01-05T17:14:00.000-08:00

The results of days spent talking to myself.

2009-10-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Self-promotion is a painful process for me. Spouting off puffery and combing through files looking for just the right image to back it up. Or creating an image to support the puffery? Puffery? Or just a image? What kind of image? Anyway, bottom line: Let my pictures tell your story.

Storyboards caught in the digital divide

2009-04-19T21:37:00.000-07:00

I'm not here to divide but to unite those with a need to pitch their web and TV spots with my abilities to put those concepts on paper fast and furiously! Here's a couple spots for Cramer-Krasselt and Deca Productions. ( I've got plenty more boards to post but have to go adjust my rabbit ears. Having trouble picking up Bowling for Dollars )

Meet some new pals...

2009-04-19T20:59:00.000-07:00

...introducing the lovely and composed Peaches and Coconuts. A blog banner illustration created for Deborah and her take on life, family, and the 'burbs. She' a certified Peach living with a Coconut. Did you know you're probably either a Peach or a Coconut? Find out more on her blog!

In the meantime I really enjoyed this project: the process yielded some new discoveries with techniques and I'm very pleased with the final look. ( The best part - Deborah is too!)

Pen to Paper

2009-02-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

Attempting some quick-sketching on the road during December. I'm using a Sharpie since I envy those folks who can grab one and knock something out in seconds. And I still remember my art school days when we sat outside in the city and tried to draw people walking by, sitting and feeding the pigeons, eating lunch, etc. So here goes: my daughter Frannie on the jet from Disney, our hotel in Indian Rocks Beach, Florida and the view from my hotel in Germany.

Gone International

2009-02-23T15:47:00.000-08:00

December was a great month. The snow flew and so did the time. My first international gig in week one. Worked in Germany on a food package design project with Blair Miller. Week two was a fast and furious few days back working on another food presentation followed by a set of promotion concepts. Week three was a vacation in Disney World, then back here for the New Years. A great way to end a great year!

Some Thanksgiving Thankful-ness.

2008-11-26T22:32:00.000-08:00

Well here's hoping a note in a batch of pixels that constitute this blog can express a little gratitude here on Thanksgiving: I'm thankful for my wife and daughters: I enjoy them every minute of the day. Somewhere among those minutes of every day I thank my lucky stars for the ability to draw for a living ( even an occasional hand turkey ) and to do so for genuinely good, interesting and enjoyable people: I'm most grateful for their trust in me. And I thank any and all who take a look at this blog and find something interesting or amusing.

If not now then soon.

Shelf Whimsy

2008-11-24T21:34:00.000-08:00

Series of illustrations for a Chicago food company and their line of tasty fruit treats.

Full-Course Illustration, check please!

2008-11-23T23:47:00.000-08:00

Finish off with a refreshing mint?

Hey you've got a little sauce on your chin...

Full-Course Illustration Part 3

2008-11-23T23:45:00.000-08:00

Dive into dessert as sweet as they were quick to draw...

Full-Course Illustration Part 2

2008-11-23T23:31:00.000-08:00

Hey lets dig right into the main course...

Full-Course Illustration

2008-11-23T23:20:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving on the way I thought it high-time to dig out the 'marker feedbag of illustration' and deliver a heapin' helpin' of samples. Lets kick it off with a snack for the kids...

Election Day

2008-11-04T11:50:00.000-08:00

Carried my under-used sketchbook for something to do in anticipation of a long line to vote. Turned out there was no waiting, so I took advantage of the warm, sunny day to sit outside and scrawl out a quick sketch as I enjoyed a free Starbucks coffee ( I sprung for a scone ) and watch a small plane circle in the clear blue sky. A serene scene for what I hope is a day of minimum voting hi-jinks and maximum results!

Election Eve. No more recounts!

2008-11-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Remember the days of hanging chads and machine malfunctions? Hopefully all a distant memory tomorrow as a strong turnout and lessons learned puts this years election in the bag early! This illustration appeared in the Chicago Reader.

Idiotes Guide to Election '08

2008-10-31T21:25:00.000-07:00

Take a break from the intensity of the campaign for a moment to check out how my plumber friend has put his plunger to good use! http://www.cafepress.com/idiote

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

I've fallen behind the Halloween thing since Milwaukee held Trick or Treat LAST Sunday afternoon- October 26. Throw in a stubborn cold and a Ideation/quick-sketching session in Chicago this week, and I'm down to the wire with this Halloween image. Well, here's to big bags of goodies! BTW- whats your favorite candy bar?

Kitchen and Bath Bouquet

2008-10-22T12:37:00.000-07:00

A lovely bouquet proposed for a national Kitchen and Bath supply company. I figure it could help 'Joe the Plumber' chase those blues away after having his story spring a few leaks!

Joe- the Plunger?

2008-10-17T14:53:00.000-07:00

Here's what could serve as illustrated proof of a rudimentary early attempt at the craft of plumbing by "Joe the Plumber" (note unshaved dome).

Is it really Joe? Is he really a plumber?

Actually, this is a illustration I did a few years ago as part of a humorous product concept for my good friend and colleague Russ Schoen. Russ is a expert trainer, facilitator, and speaker in the field of creativity, innovation and leadership (though he probably couldn't help you with plumbing).

Pay him a visit at http://russchoen.com.

Wheels

2008-10-15T09:33:00.000-07:00

I opened the archives and found these images in response to a client request. In no particular order, here's some greeting cards, ideation quick-sketch, and a marketing concept...

... speaking of vehicles, I used to own a 1965 Mercury Comet. It was white with a super-clean red interior, "three-on-the-tree" and a AM radio with crystal-clear reception ( the best way to listen to classic country on WSM out of Nashville ). Of course, it was my best car I've ever owned. Hey, do you have a favorite car? grandpa's wagon?, your pal's Pacer? maybe even a soap box derby racer or (gulp) a Segway?

SPECIAL OFFER: The first three readers to email me with their favorite set of wheels will receive a quick and cool illustration of it back from me. Hurry, this

is a limited time offer!

Event Concepts

2008-10-05T22:01:00.000-07:00

Illustrations for a museum proposal proving that if you don't get invited to a party, just draw one!

Event Concepts

2008-10-05T21:42:00.001-07:00

Some event concepts executed in a fast and loose style. Not to mention a liberal use of orange markers. Personally I like the flapping laundry in the basket on top of the moon walk.

( Please note I've eliminated any and all logos to protect clients and/or customers and will do so throughout the blog)

Promotional Postcards from the past few months.

2008-03-13T21:44:00.000-07:00

A show of postcards I created the last quarter of '07: a Sharpie pen/lasso wielding cowboy, working the graveyard shift, a mini-Macy's Parade drama, and a unusual buck here in deer country (relax hunters, he's already full of lead!)