Walter and Marie Popp both studied at the Art Students League in New York, where many well-known and influential artists have both studied and taught.  Here they met in 1946, after Walter returned from serving in WWII and was attending on the G.I. Bill.  Marie started out as a fashion illustrator and model. Walter's early career was in magazine illustration.  They later joined together to produce hundreds of paintings for illustration, most notably book covers for Regency period romances.  Their work was among the most sought after in this genre, and before turning to fine art, they painted book covers for every major book publisher in New York including Warner, Zebra, Signet, Fawcett, Harlequin, Dell, and others. Their work has been featured on CNN, in the New York Times, and in several other publications.  Both were longtime members of the Society of Illustrators, New York.

 A True Collaboration

Although  30 plus years of  magazine and book illustration produced  numerous works for detective stories, westerns, and gothic mysteries among others,  it was the theme of romance which they found the most compelling and for which they began their truly collaborative efforts.

Throughout the 1950's and 60's, Walter worked alone on illustrations and the Popps' “collaboration” was limited to raising a large family of nine children, with Marie doing some figurative paintings in between a very busy home life. She also served as a model for many of her husband's early illustrations for adventure magazines which often depicted beautiful women in peril. Art experts have described Walter as a "good, solid, skillful artist who demonstrated a tremendous amount of imagination" and who "painted realistically and drew figures really well."  (N.Y. Times Sept. 2002).

By the 1970's Walter saw his hard work beginning to pay off.  His freelance work was in such demand by publishers who watched  books with his covers quickly moving off the shelves that he had a choice to make: Turn down assignments or ask Marie to pitch in. With such a  large family to support the decision was easy. Marie said, “Don't turn down any work!” and  began to work with Walter on book covers.  In a small studio in the corner of their home they worked together.  Marie joined in on every phase from rough sketch, to selecting models and directing photo sessions, to the finished paintings. Her background in fashion served them well when researching Regency period clothing (even doing her own alterations on gowns and tailcoats). Walter's hard-earned reputation as a top artist in his field made theirs a uniquely valuable partnership.

Early on  Walter continued to sign his name on all artwork so as not to confuse the publishing world , but eventually he changed his signature to reflect his wife's initial.  He created a monogram combining the W and M of their names which they used thereafter on collaborations.

 Gallery Art Becomes Available

After more than three decades of success painting cover art,  the couple decided to turn their attention to fine art. They found themselves again drawn to the theme of romance.  They created  a series of  works for collectors, romantic images set to a backdrop of elegance and grace. Although the subjects of the paintings are set in another time, the artists wanted to create a timeless feeling, not to have us relive another era,  but to bring the subjects of their paintings to us, here and now. The men and women in Walter and Marie's romantic scenes  are people we relate to. The effect is something fresh,  like romance itself, always filled with the possibility of something new.

Walter and Marie bring a unique sensibility to their work.  Great attention is given to the nuances of facial expressions. “We tell stories with faces” Marie said.  “A woman may be walking in a garden with a man. The man and the woman are just looking at each other, looking in each other's faces, relating intimately with one another.  They are very romantic pieces…we just believe in Romance.” 

Walter and Marie's 55 years together as husband and wife and creative partners ended with Walter's death in 2002.  Marie died in 2006.  These paintings represent their ultimate effort  to share their inspirational images with collectors.