Gallery: This Illustrator Makes $100K Selling Virtual Paintbrushes
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Illustrator Kyle Webster has developed a series of digital brushes that allow artists to recreate the look of scratchy technical pens, flowing watercolor paints, and dusty pastels all within the pristine confines of a Photoshop file.
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Webster's brushes are used by Disney concept artists and award-winning comic book artists.
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What these artists like most isn't that the digital brushes feel perfect, but rather that they feel *unpredictable* and require experience and experimentation, just like real brushes.
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Last year, Webster earned over $100,000 selling his intangible art supplies
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Webster developed these brushes to allow himself to work in a variety of different styles.
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Some of Webster's creations are carefully planned and designed to mimic a specific type of tool, like a fine sable watercolor brush. Others emerge organically from experiments.
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"Most of the work I am making now for clients is work I am proud to show in my portfolio, as opposed to a mix of jobs that pay the bills and keep me busy," says Webster who now has to regularly turn down big gigs to handle tech support and marketing.
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Using these tools Webster has been able to serve a diverse client list that includes Tori Amos and Krispy Kreme.
