Loren Marks – New York State Of Mind

Welcome back to The Expressionist Magazine

About a month or so ago, we got an e mail from a unique artist who said “I would love an article about me, do you think I would fit.”  When I looked at their work, I was amazed, I said yea this is something we can definitely put in our magazine and right away set up an interview with her.  Loren’s work is bright and cheerful, they use all colors of the spectrum making for a very impressive piece of art.  Her paintings can be admired for their beauty and they also tell a story.  From what I see from her work it wonderfully defines her life in New York City, if you want to know what New York life is like, check out Loren’s work!

Describe yourself as an artist.

An excerpt from my Statement best describes:

Making art can lead you to a balanced ecstasy and it can often leave you feeling cursed. I’ve driven myself close to the vibrations of madness with the desire for truth, gripping the idea tighter until I feel myself choking. I then (again) realize the secret. Move from the INSIDE OUT rather than the outside in. This simple yet challenging, ongoing process of recognizing truth is where authenticity is grounded. It’s where the highest choice is made, the only way to make art and…the best way to live.

This way has been carried into the theme of my work.

SACRED ART is the title to my continuing series of paintings and sculptures. They are visions, epiphanies, prayers and objects of ritual which are intended to serve as tools to guide us to the freedom of instinct (the ultimate survival tool). Instinct is too often ignore and this, I believe, breeds sickness on all levels, be it mental, spiritual or physical. No matter who we are, where we come from or whether we realize it or not, we humans inherently desire the same things: to be awake – aware- whole.

What does art mean to you?  How important is it in today’s society?

In it’s depths – a necessary examination of self deception. Art shakes things up – makes us reflect – connects us to each other. We will always need that. Every generation of artists has this task to perform. However in this time in history, I think it’s imperative we connect to ourselves and each other even more.

What has been your hardest hurdle to overcome with your art?

Myself and balancing time between producing desired amount of work and doing the Life thing (bills, rent, chores, family/friends keeping the boyfriend happy etc..).
 
As an artist, sometimes they are diverse in mediums… What is your preferred medium and are there any other mediums you dabble in?

I always work in oils but I like to build things too. I’ve recently been getting more interested in combining the two along the theme of ritualistic tools and doing a series of dioramas. I really like dioramas.

What inspires you when you make a new painting?

It’s usually different ‘medicines’ that help me through something I’m dealing with at the time. Things that keep me going. They can vary anywhere from dreams, authors, animals and plants to death and deja vue’s. Charles Bukowski is one who seems to keep popping up with no sign of stopping.

What is your goal with your work?

My desire is to bust open lies, sanction the holy forgotten, bring the balance between dark and light and to go perhaps beyond there. By combining universal symbols that go with the grain of instinct, I aim to bring an objective view of ourselves and our world. In sharing my personal journey with the viewer, I hope to spark their desire to honor the self. We must give birth to the highest choice. This is when we are truly awake and can live our lives to the fullest. This idea is my wish and driving force.

Do you have any formal training in art, or was it something you just picked up?

I studied painting at Parsons School of Design in NYC for a short while until my money ran out – then continued to explore on my own.
 
What’s your greatest achievement in your art career?

See question #3! It’s amazing to see people stand in front of my work for a long time. Sometimes someone is confused at what they’re looking at but something holds them there…they want to figure it out. Some react intensely. I’ve seen people cry and even angry! It’s a trip to watch the different reactions.

What’s more important in your art, color or subject matter and why?

Both are equally important. Color and images are specifically chosen to convey meaning of artwork. Everything is symbolic. One won’t work to it’s capacity without the other.
 
Do you do any custom work for people?

Yes, I am available for commissions.
 
Do you have work on display at any museums or shows?  If so please let us know where.

My latest work will be showing in METROPOLIS APOCALYPSE at Supreme Trading in Williamsburg, Brooklyn October 9th – October 30th 2008
(see flyer)
 
How can our readers find you or contact you if they want.

While my personal website is being revamped my work can be viewed at:

http://www.myspace.com/lorenmarks
and
http://www.myartspace.com

John Clark- His Art Tells A Story

Sometimes I surf the Internet looking for some great works of art that catch my eye.  One afternoon I happened upon an Etsy storefront selling these beautifully drawn women, in black and white ink, laid over old books.  I thought how interesting and fresh, I knew right then and there that John Clark would be worth interviewing for this magazine.  His work shows that art can be anything that inspires you, there are no limits to this vast field of expressionism. 

I love your work, its so unique with your paper.  What made you decide to use books and the print type?  How did that all come about?

I was reading an old mystery novel one day and became really inspired by the wording and imagery.  I started doodling directly on the page, trying to discover a style that would properly convey the drama and
feeling of noir.  I dabbled with heavy cross hatch, then a bit of stipple but settled on something resembling stencil graffiti. Actually, people often ask if I use stencils in my work,  I don’t.  I focus on creating high contrast and try to avoid unnecessary line work.  My work is drawn on pages from books printed in the 20s, the old paper soaks up the ink just right.

I see mostly women in your collection, do you draw men too?  What inspires you to draw women.

I’ve drawn men for custom requests but I’ll never draw one for fun.  I try to create art that is both aesthetically pleasing and compelling and I just find the subject of strong, assured, and certainly deadly
women to be my favorite.

When did you learn to draw?  Did you ever take formal lessons?

I’ve drawn pretty obsessively since I can remember.  When I was little I drew with my parents nearly every day and they’ve always been supportive.   I’ve taken a few classes at a local art institute when I was younger and had one inspirational art teacher in high school.

What artists, cartoonists, etc….. inspired you as an artist to draw if any?

Comic books where my biggest inspiration for a long time.  Still the idea of conveying a story with art remains in my work.  I think the only comic artist that still directly influences my work now is Frank
Miller.

Do you have any of your pictures on display anywhere but Etsy?

There’s a few random boutiques and galleries that stock my prints but my main distribution channel is Etsy.

What is your favorite piece and why?  What makes it so special to you?

It changes every couple of weeks but the piece “Spare me,”http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14281729 pretty much nails it for me.  The look, the lighting and feeling of it fit just right for me.  She’s on her way out the door and nothing you say will stop that.

It’s always nice to hear that I’ve surprised someone with my work; that it’s nothing like anything they’ve ever seen before.   Other people see my work and are unimpressed.  I’m okay with either reaction.  Art is completely subjective and I firmly believe in the saying, different strokes for different folks.  I just love that at least some people dig it.

When you draw, what do you think about?

My attention span is admittedly low so I am often multi-tasking.  At the very least I’ll be focused on music I’m listening to or even watching a movie while I draw.

Define your view of an artist, referencing yourself, what do you want people to get from your work?

I hope the viewer can find both beauty and intrigue in my work.  I want to convey part of the story but leave the rest to interpretation.

Any advice you can lend to other artists?

Stay true to creating what you love, ignore trends and focus on what makes you happy.

Artist Spotlight: Alan Sundal – Marine Artist

Alan Sundal is a remarkable man with a remarkable talent to capture his surroundings and turn it to art. His love is the ocean, his passion is art, and Alan combines the two flawlessly. Alan’s work consists mainly of lighthouses from around the world, historic shipwrecks, myriad moods, and spectacular underwater scenes with marine animals.

Alan’s preferred medium is oil paints, but he is not restricted to just oils. Alan has worked in pen and ink, colored ink, watercolors, pastels and charcoal drawings.

Believe it or not, Alan’s career as an artist started when he was in high school. He told a writer for his website, “I been drawing since second grade, and I am pretty much self taught, but in high school drew a drawing for a friend of his, that he needed for a class assignment. It went so well, that the word spread about my talent, and I found myself in business, selling my work at fifty cents a drawing.” I asked how he didn’t get caught, and Alan said “I made small variations to my work, with my style and technique, and the teacher was completely unaware of his work.

In 1957, when Alan was 17, he dropped out of school and joined the US Navy, and was stationed out of Norfolk, VA. From 1957 to 1961 Alan was assigned to a destroyer. He saw duty on the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean. At the start of the Cold War, his Navy platoon, ASW, was playing ‘hop-scotch’ with Russian submarines.

After his discharge from the armed services, Alan still enjoyed the water and was an active sports/ scuba and professional diver doing underwater recovery. It was here that Alan saw the beautiful underwater life, and later painted what he saw.

Sundal, owned and operated his own art gallery in Gatlinburg, TN from 1982-1990. During this time he was making reproductions of his original work, in full color, and he limited the quantities to 750 prints on high quality rag paper. Alan signed and authenticated all his prints and originals in his collection.

Alan’s greatest achievement is his Sullivan Collection, a 45+ piece collection of original paintings that hangs in museums all across the North East; including the US Coast Guard Museums in New London, CT and Washington D.C. The Boston Heritage Museum , National Maritime Museum, Boston Harbor, and the Scituate Historical Society. The collection is comprised of historical maritime and life-saving rescues throughout the US Coast Guard’s history.

Today, Alan travels the US going from show to show selling prints and originals of his work. Alan’s work includes; Florida Lighthouses, East Coast Lighthouses, Great Lakes Lighthouses, Historical Shipwrecks, Naval Vessels, Oil Rigs, and Nautical Animals with Underwater Scenes. Alan still takes commissioned work, Contact us for his contact information.