A Tolkien compliment, a broken discipline, and where I'm heading next
Hey everyone,
It’s been a minute since I last reached out, but things have been pretty busy behind the studio door. Between hitting some exciting milestones and getting completely buried in some heavy logistical planning, I've had a lot on my plate. I wanted to catch you up on what’s been happening on the easel, share a really cool moment from a recent public display, and let you know where things are heading next.
A "Tolkien" Milestone at the Library
To start, I recently had the chance to show a piece at the Johnson Public Library in Hackensack. Walking in and seeing it up on the wall—which you can see right here in a shot from the Johnston Library —was a great feeling.
It was an honor to have my featured so prominently, and it was great to meet all the other artists.
The feedback was awesome, but one comment in particular really stuck with me. Someone told me the painting gave off "real Tolkien vibes."
For me, landscape painting is all about trying to capture a sense of atmosphere and mass—I want to invite you to step into the scene and feel like you're going on a walk or a journey inside your own head. Hearing a comparison to Tolkien’s world-building let me know the work is actually hitting its mark.
Fresh from the Easel: Balancing Business and the Brush
When I haven't been dealing with the library show, I’ve been trying to put time in at the easel. If I'm being completely honest, though, my usual painting routine has broken down a bit lately—and I'm learning to be okay with that.
With a busy autumn on the horizon, a lot of my energy has temporarily shifted to the unglamorous side of art: the business planning, the endless prep, and the logistics of getting organized. But as I get the administrative heavy lifting out of the way over the next few weeks, I’m getting ready to dive back into a heavy creative rhythm. I'm making a big push to stock up for the fall, and I'm looking forward to seeing what that creative surge brings to the canvas.
Even with the business distractions, I did manage to get a few solid studio sessions in recently. I’ve been pushing myself to expand my palette, and these three recent studies show exactly where my focus has been heading:
I really tried to capture the churning power of the crashing waves.
In Overcast Swell I really wanted to explore the raw power and movement of water, using deliberate, sculptural brushstrokes to give the waves a tangible physical weight under a heavy, overcast sky.
The transparency of the Alizarin Crimson really helped bring the reflection to life.
A Quiet Lake at Sunset was a breakthrough in color for me. I expanded my palette here, bringing in Alizarin Crimson alongside a brighter Cadmium Red to make the sunset truly come alive. It worked incredibly well at letting the rich, moody darks shine through as the light reflects off the lake.
This one really brought me back to the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
And finally, Rushing Waters and Silent Peaks brings together those elements of texture and mass. By building up the rugged terrain of the mountains and the rushing force of the waterfall with heavy impasto, the landscape feels less like a flat image and more like an environment you can feel.
The Big Reveal: Stepping Into the Public Square This Fall
So, what exactly has all this business planning, logistical prep, and intense studio focus been leading toward?
While I love sharing my process online and writing here, nothing quite replaces the magic of a face-to-face conversation. That is why I am thrilled to announce that I am taking my art into the public square this autumn!
I will be exhibiting live at three upcoming New Jersey street fairs. I would love for you to stop by my booth, say hello, and see the textures of these canvases up close. Mark your calendars for these dates:
Sept 20 (Sunday) – Saddle Brook, NJ
Oct 4 (Sunday) – Somerville, NJ
Oct 18 (Sunday) – Fair Lawn, NJ
Whether you have been following my work for a while or are seeing it for the very first time, I cannot wait to meet you and talk about art, nature, and the stories behind the paint.
Looking Ahead: Summer Screen Time
Along with making my big painting push for the fairs, I have another fun project to look forward to this summer: I am planning to produce a few YouTube videos! I want to take you even deeper into the studio process, the gear, and the reality of building this art business.
Stay tuned for those updates soon, and thank you all for being a part of this creative journey with me. Your support means the world, and I hope to see many of you in person this September and October!
Until next time,
Mark
Just Like Dorothy Did It LLC