POP GOES THE BIBLE!
The Nativity
24 x 24" Oil on Canvas
David And Goliath
48 x 48" Oil on Canvas
The Good Shepard
48 x 42" Oil on Canvas
Minnie Magdalene The Unrepentant
60 x 46" Oil on Canvas
The Crucifixion Of Dali Duck—Duckis Hypercubus
60x 52" Oil on Canvas
Caine And Abel
36 x 36" Oil on Canvas
The Judas Kiss
48 x 60" Oil on Canvas
The Crucifixion Of Saint Peter
60x 48" Oil on Canvas
GOD And Adam
40x 32" Oil on Canvas
The Pieta
60x 48" Oil on Canvas
The Money Changers
42x 36" Oil on Canvas
Although it sounds cliché, the idea for this show actually came to me in a dream. I saw the Crucifixion Of Dali Duck—Ducks Hypercubus as clear as day. It conveys every one of my issues with Catholicism,( I don’t think I’ve ever done a show without at least one crucifixion). Anyway, I woke up and scribbled down the idea in a notebook I keep next to my bed so I wouldn’t forget the idea. Oddly enough, Dali Duck was the first idea I had but it was the last painting I did for the show, as I knew it was going to be epic and wanted no other pressures on me so I was free to paint. All of the paintings are copies from the masters, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, Dali etc, etc. The idea was to duplicate these religious masterpieces and replace them with cartoon characters who I felt best matched their personalities. The Judas Kiss in particular was divine inspiration with Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny. The Dali Duck is the exact dimensions of the original Dali painting at TheMET Museum in NYC. I went and measured it as best I could and projected the image onto a specially built canvas so I would get the image as close, size-wise to Dali’s masterpiece. I love all my shows, and paintings, but this show holds a special place in my heart, because of its experimentation, execution, scope, and imagery.
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Best,
Mark
The Temptation Of Eve
42x 36" Oil on Canvas
THE WRITERS
GINSBERG
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
Genet
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
WILDE
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
POE
36X 24" Oil on Canvas
THE YOUNG ANGELOU
36X 24" Oil on Canvas
WOOLF
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
THE CHILD GENIUS, 1
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
This series of paintings were created as an homage to some of my favorite writers. They were all painted in burnt sienna oil. I covered the canvas with the writers work, sealed the paper to the canvas with gel medium and then painted the image over that. The Child Genius, 1&2 is the least famous (for now) but will one day soon be recognized as a very unique voice, that deserves and demands attention and respect.
THE CHILD GENIUS,2
42X 30" Oil on Canvas
ABSURD NOTIONS
THE HEIR APPARENT
36x 36" Oil on Canvas
MONDAY, MONDAY
36x 36" Oil on Canvas
TINY BALLERINA
24x 24" Oil on Canvas
LEAP OF FAITH
36x 36" Oil on Canvas
A WALK IN THE CLOUDS
60x 36" Oil on Canvas
A RARE PUBLIC APPEARANCE BY THE MARTYRS OF PORT LLIGAT
48x 60" Oil on Canvas
THE HAPPIEST LITTLE CHILDREN ON EARTH
48x 42" Oil on Canvas
LEANING MAN
36X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
STANDING IN THE
SHADOW OF LOVE
36X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
HOLES
36X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
VICTORY
36X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
FUNERAL MARCH FOR A GOBLIN 48 X 96" OIL ON CANVAS
NINE LADDERS
42X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
BIRTHDAY PARTY RESCUE SQUAD 42X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
LOW WIRE ACT
42X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
THE STILTS OF GOD
48X 36" OIL ON CANVAS
LADDER DAY SAINT
60X 48" OIL ON CANVAS
This is the show that followed The Practise Of Injury In Private. I was still recovering from my accident, and the recent death of my Father. I was tired of everything being so bleak and depressing, and I wanted to create something whimsical, and light. ABSURD NOTIONS was the result, and about as whimsical and light as I get…goblins falling off cliffs, walking on impossible stilts, jumping over bottomless holes, balancing (or not) on tightropes and of course, a crucifixion and a funeral march. A complete bundle of artistic joy. I find these paintings delightful. Three of them are very personal to me, and contain at least one hidden message in each, A Rare Public Appearance By The Martyrs Of Port Lligat, Leaning Man and Birthday Party Rescue Squad.
Funeral March For A Goblin is a visual Opera.
I•WALK•THE•LINE
HEADLINES
36X 36" OIL on Canvas
HEART
36X 30" Ink on Paper
ICE CREAM CONE
30 X24" Ink on Paper
BANANA SPLIT
32X 36" Ink on Paper
GONE FISHIN
36X 32" Ink on Paper
SACRED HEART OF THE JESUS
36X 30" Oil on Canvas
WHO KILLED MY SISTER, WHO KILLED THE WITCH OF THE EAST?
36X 24" Oil on Canvas
PRISON VALENTINE
30X 36" GLITTER ON ARCHES
SHINY BUNNY
30X 36" GLITTER ON ARCHES
DALI'S BRAIN
36X 36" Oil on Silver Canvas
TOULOUSE
36X 24" GLITTER, INK ON ARCHES
UNTITLED
36X 30 INK ON ARCHES
EYE OF HORUS
36X 24" Oil on Gold Canvas
FISH BOWL
48X 36" Oil on Silver Canvas
YOU'RE GETTING SLEEPY
36X 36" Oil on Silver Canvas
BONY FRAMEWORK OF THE ABDOMIN
48X 36" Oil on Canvas
After having done several shows in a row and being committed to produce another one in just a years time, I was understandably exhausted, physically, emotionally and creatively. I had been working with so much color, with such vivid images that I was feeling lost and drained. Then I had the idea to abandon color altogether and do an entire series in black and white. But it didn’t seem to be enough, I didn’t want to just paint in black and white and shades of gray, it had to be strictly black and white. I began sketching ideas and started drawing little images that aded up to one big image and thats how “I WALK THE LINE” came to be. Some are painted and can only be hung one way but several were painted specifically to be hung any way you’d like, designed to be turned from time to time, and they are dense and complex enough that you’ll always discover something new. Most people paint with the idea that the viewer should stand back and absorb the entire image and that is true of this work as well, except these were also done to get as close as possible, stare into the images and discover all the little hidden gems I’ve put in there. For the most part they are all oil on canvas, but a few were done on ARCHES 400 lb. color paper with ink or black glitter, and sometimes both. The glitter was coated with Krylon to stop it from coming off. In the process I discovered that the more Krylon I used, the glitter began to melt and turn into it’s own sort of paint, without losing it’s sheen. It was an amazing exercise working in black and white only. It was an excellent reset button as well.
THE PRACTISE OF INJURY IN PRIVATE
KARAOKE MARTYR
48X 48" Oil on Canvas
THE GREAT CLOWN MASSACRE OF 1867
60X 60" Oil on Canvas
SHE AIN'T WHAT HE USED TA BE
48X 48" Oil on Canvas
MAD BECAUSE HE'S RETARDED
60X 60" Oil on Canvas
PORTRAIT OF FRANCES BACON FROM THE FRANCES BACON PAINTING, PAINTING
48X 40" Oil on Canvas
HE'S A BAD, DIRTY SNOWMAN
72X 42" Oil on Canvas
THE VIRGIN QUEEN
60X 48" Oil on Canvas
SAL MINEO IS DEAD
60X 48" Oil on Canvas
THE DEPLETION OF ONES SELF AT THE HANDS OF OBSESSION
48X 48" Oil on Canvas
THE MAJESTY AND BEAUTY OF BURN VICTIMS WHO WEAR TINY, TINY HATS
60X 48" Oil on Canvas
REST STOP PARTY GIRL
48X 36" Oil on Canvas
SWEETIE
60X 60" Oil on Canvas
BIBLE, KING OF THE $5. HOOKER
60X 60" Oil on Canvas
The title of this show is actually a quote from Francis Bacon, who in my opinion is one of the greatest artists and painters to have ever lived. In an interview Bacon was once asked about painting portraits, and whether he liked to work from live models or photographs and his reply was that he liked to work from photos because “I choose to practise my injury in private." Also, practise is not spelled wrong, this is the UK spelling of the word. This show was probably never meant to be, I don’t know, maybe it was. Three weeks before the show opened I had a really horrific accident. I was dependent on my magnificent friends to not only get the work to the gallery, but get me there too, carrying me down several flights of steps and back up, as well as wheeling me to the gallery and back home on a very cold February night. I was immobile for months. At the end of the first week that the show was up, the gallery had a flood, and then five days later an electrical fire. A lot of people, myself included felt a black cloud hovering. There was a minute there that I thought a drag-queen had put a curse on me, it’s a long story… ask me sometime and maybe I’ll tell you about it (the story has a charming, bitter sweet ending).The title of the show was repugnant and upon reflection I guess the work was pretty brutal. I still cautiously adore these paintings, and if anyone is brave enough to own one, there are a couple still for sale!
Priests, Stilts, Clowns & Freaks
WHO KILLED BUNNYDUCK
24X 24" Oil on Canvas
TEENAGE KISS
36X 24" Oil on Canvas
PLANTLIFE
40X 30" Oil on Canvas
BAG #1 SUFOCATION
20X 16" Oil on Canvas
BAG #2, TORN PAPER
20X 16" Oil on Canvas
CHRISTO INOCUO
42X 36" Oil on Canvas
POOR EUGENE
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
WHO INVENTED THE TWINS?
36X 36" Mixed Media/Oil on Canvas
THE SKELETAL FAMILY
24X 24" Oil on Canvas
TOYS
24X 24" Oil on Canvas
FRUIT #1
36X 36" Oil on Canvas
Priests, Stilts, Clowns & Freaks…what more can be said! This was an amalgam of new works done specifically for this show, old work never show and some experimental works (ENVROPIG done in encaustic). Theres a lot of different techniques going on here, from the impasto (Who Killed Bunnyduck), to the use of kitty litter mixed into the paint for texture and a fair bit of collage as well. Who Invented The Twins is the culmination of all of it, canvas, oils, paper, fabric and kitty litter and one of my most popular paintings This was also the first time I’ve shown “POOR EUGENE” a painting I did in 1992 and have refused to sell. I’ve turned down countless offers for it. It’s my Sistine Chapel, my Mona Lisa, and the thought of parting with it breaks my heart. But should someone offer enough for it, I may be able to deal with a little heartbreak…maybe!