My degree reads BS Metallurgical Engineering, the practical choice. I probably should have given the visual arts a try right from the git-go since I’ve been a doodler all my life – finger paints, crayons, pencil, etc. In any case, I worked in the steel industry for thirty-six years, retiring in 2001. In preparation for retirement, I began art lessons at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. That’s when I began doodling in earnest.
After moving to Taos in 2007, I studied with Ray Vinella for the better part of a year. Gallery representation seemed like a natural progression. I was represented by a Taos gallery for six months in 2008. While there, I realized that the gallery model doesn’t work for me because I want to establish a personal relationship with buyers, of paramount importance to me. Since then I have sold my work directly to collectors.
I believe an artist is usually better off not talking about his artwork. The work should speak for itself; you either like it or you don’t. Having said that, I am essentially a studio painter working in oils with a palette knife, usually on wood panel. My paintings tell a story, incorporating the history, cultural diversity and natural beauty of northern New Mexico. Often, I strive for a light-hearted feeling.
- Phone:
575-758-7171 (studio)
443-904-1418 - Website: http://www.markasmus.com/
- Email: markasmus@yahoo.com
