Riffe Gallery show, Natural Light, paintings by the Ohio Plein Air Society, July 28- October 16, 2011
OPAS Annual Competition, September 23-25, 2011
Last Updated: July 2, 2011
2011 so far: Went to coastal Maine for a painting trip with Jim Glover. The weather was cloudy and foggy much of the time which is typical of March. I began teaching a 20 week oil painting course in the home studio last December. I had my annual solo show at the new Brandt Roberts Gallery on the Short North district where paintings of Europe was the feature. Solo show at the Faculty Club at the Ohio State University in May/June. A 25th wedding anniversary trip with my wife Shana to Ireland was taken in June. There, among other things, I found inspiration among the emerald hills, stone fences and sheep.
2010 Overview: Conducted a winter studio workshop in March and a summer plein air workshop at Franklin Park Conservatory in June. I began a 10 week drawing course in September. Went on a painting trip with Jim Glover to San Diego, California. I had my annual solo show at Bryan Roberts Gallery in June. Also have put new work in the Short North gallery 'Brandt Roberts Galleries' the new space for the gallery. Arnold Swartzenegger purchased the painting 'Dancer in Red' at the Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio in March. I was honored to receive the 'Best of Show' award at the annual OPAS competition which was held at Lakeside, Ohio. A commission was filled for Bill and Nicole Bundy. In August I went on a three week tour of Europe with three of my children, Bryant, Allison and Michael as well as Vince Yoder. We visited Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, France, Belgium and Holland. From my experiences there I based a major part of my studio work for the upcoming season.
2009 Overview: Painting trip to New Hope, PA with Jim Glover. We got a private tour of the studio of the late Daniel Garber at his Cutalossa Farm north of New Hope. Annual solo show at the Bryan H Roberts Gallery. Received first place ribbon and purchase award for a painting at the annual OPAS competition at Lakeside, Ohio. Group show at the Columbus Museum of Art of paintings of the Russel Page Garden. Demo at the Collage of Women Artists. A family trip to the coastal towns and rugged wilderness of southern Alaska. Commissions were filled for Gloria and Kyle Roth, Marvin and Betty Yutzy and Rocky and Kris Bonecutter.
2008 Overview: Focused primarily on painting the figure outdoors with my daughters as models. Conducted workshops in the Buck Creek area near Springfield. Painted with Tim Deibler, Jane Ford and Jim Glover in southern Colorado in the fall. The weather was gorgeous and in addition to painting many small studies we hit a large elk after dusk with our suburban one evening. Tim is one of Colorado's best painters and we were priveleged to have him and his wife host us in his home. Represented in Naples, Florida by Weatherburn Gallery. Commission work for Ralph Smucker and Rocky Bonecutter.
2007 Overview: Finished a series of figurative works with my daughters and other models painted at Buck Creek State Park and Lakeside, Ohio. Taught workshops in the studio as well as plein air. Went on a painting trip with Jim Glover to Myrtle Beach and Charleston. Painted many garden scenes at Brookgreen Gardens. Annual solo show at Bryan Roberts Gallery. Group shows in Cincinnati and Lexington. Portrait demo at Worthington Area Art League.
2006 Overview; Began teaching one week plein air workshops in the spring and fall as well as on open studio program in the winter. Took a wonderful ten day painting trip with my good friend Jim Glover to Laguna beach and Catalina Island, California in March to beat the cold in Ohio. We saw more good paining in one city than I had ever before. Artistic overload. Had my solo show at the Bryan Roberts Gallery in the spring featuring among many others some California scenes. Completed commissions for Rocky and Kris Bonecutter, Pam Sugar, and Dr. Bullock.
2005 Overview; Completed commissions for Rocky Bonecutter, Linda Turner, Louis Armentrout, and painted a portrait of Anya, the adopted daughter of John Light, president of Hocking College in Nelsonville, OH. Received a purchase award from Mr. and Mrs. Light at the Nelsonville OPAS competition. Spring solo show at the Bryan H Roberts Gallery that proved very successful. Participated in a group show of work that was painted on the grounds of the Franklin Park Conservatory and was shown Sept. 10 at the BR Gallery.
2004 Overview; Built the new studio with much improved natual north light and more space. Solo show at the Bryan Roberts Gallery in March. Signed on to the Clossons Gallery in Cincinnati. Completed commissions for S. Giroux, R. Smucker, A. Mistaccio, R. Bonecutter, M. Brandt, and Mr. Sogar.
2003 Overview; Spring solo show at the Bryan Roberts Gallery. The completion of the painting project called Paint Ohio. The auction of 33 paintings of Paint Ohio scenes at Apple Tree Auction. The presentation of the coffee table book The Land We call Ohio as well as prints of the paintings featured in the book. Ohio Governor's mansion receives Mark's painting entitled Mt. Logan. The Ohio Plein Air Society is born with impetus from Paint Ohio.
2002 Overview; Spring solo show at the Bryan Roberts Gallery. Completed commisions for J. Riepl, D. Blumberg and Schottenstein, Zox & Dunn. Joined the Paint Ohio project by the invitation of Richard Canfield. Received Merit Award at the the Hoosier Salon for the painting entiled A Lazy Afternoon. Taught art classes to young students at the studio. Studied with Matt Smith, Ken Auster, Ralph Oberg, Gay Faulkenberry, and John Budicin at Winter Park, Colorado.
2001 Overview; spring solo show at the Bryan H Roberts Gallery. Completed commisions for J. Riepl, and Jim and Linda Brundrett. Taught art classes to young students at the studio.
2000 Overview; Met Bryan Roberts and began to show my work in his gallery in Bexley. Taught winter art classes. Workshop with John Budicin in Texas.
1994 Attended workshop with Atelier du Nord School of Classical Realism in Minnesota.
1990 Built first studio. Painting in the winter months.