Mark Mellon, whose work is currently included in Sin City Gallery's 12” of Sin International Group Show, answered some questions for me recently.
Lolita: What made you decide to be an artist?
Mark: I don't believe there ever was a moment when I ever had to consider being an artist. I believe I always was. An inherent part of what and who I am. I began to learn and understand the disciplines of being a artist in 1998. There was a moment of decision, to consciously take control of what my voice was as an artist and for many years that had been my struggle. I could not get past the idea that art without a voice, without a meaning, without substance was just not for me and I had no desire to just create art for the hell of it. After years of learning and living life to discover who I actually was, going through trials of depression and other issues I feel I found what I was looking for and literally, one day my voice came to me and I knew where I was going.
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An Allegory of Things Unknown (11) |
Lolita: Where do you get ideas for your work?
Mark: I am huge fan of mythology, human civilization, philosophy,metaphysics, astronomy and all the things that come with that territory. I draw inspiration from there, looking for its deeper implications in life for the individual and society as a whole. There is so much to be learned from our past, that I feel a good chunk of it has been brushed aside as non sense and left to be untaught.
I work on bringing to light the human condition and our role in the collective consciousness of the universe.
Lolita: Why do you work in the mediums you work in?
Mark: I use a lot of different mediums. I love the feel of canvas, the way paints interact with each other, the look and feel of charcoal and oil pastel. I also use watercolor and ink. I suppose it really depends on what strikes me at the moment to use.
Lately I have been creating assemblages while framing my canvas and other work on masonite, I love the process of finishing a piece or taking the piece to the next step for exhibition. I would love to get into more sculptural and installation work, of course if the right venue pops up to do such a thing.
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| A Race Called Human (8) |
Lolita: How would you describe your working process, your studio habits?
Mark: I try to work everyday. Whether sketching, drawing or painting... or even if it means painting over something later, I try to work constantly. I feel it keeps me personally always flowing and keeps the work evolving. There are times I go through lull moment and stop and I always get stuck in those moments and it is hard to reboot and begin work again. This year I've begun doing a daily sketch series, which has been very good to keep my sense sharp and my work flowing, keeping ideas fresh.
Online marketing, website maintenance, and other things associated with sales, filling out exhibition proposals, etc fill up big chunks of the day as well.
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| An Allegory of Things Unknown (2) |
Mark:There are too many to count. And at given moments in time, I have had several that really stood out. About 4 or 5 years ago, I tried to stop studying artists work, I felt that the more I studied other work, my own work continually kept taking the shape and voice of those artists rather than my own. So I started to search inward and study my own art. Currently I am really enjoying a lot of modern art that is coming out of Spain, France and Brazil among others.
Lolita:Your work seems to have a style all its own, how would you describe it?
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| Running Backwards in the Shadow of Your Reflection |
Mark: It is me. I am it. It really is an extension of myself and all the words I can never really seem to find put into visual format.
Lolita: Are you a Las Vegas native?
Mark: I have lived in Las Vegas for about 17 years now... maybe more.. I am from Pittsburgh, PA. But I have been here so long I feel like this is the only place I know.
Lolita:How does Las Vegas figure into your work?
Mark:I always say that there is something in the Atmosphere here... something that just seems very different than anywhere else you go. It is isolated, yet connected. Somehow this correlates with my work quite well, but I think if someone did not know I was from Las Vegas, it would be a surprise.
Lolita:Do you have an ‘only in Las Vegas’ story you could share (does not have to be art related)
Mark: I have about 6 years or more of my life that could be considered 'only in Vegas'....
mellon fine art
mellonfineart.blogspot
@mellonart
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