Artist Biography
Mark was born in Westphalia, West Germany in 1962 and moved to the United States ten years later settling in central Ohio.
He has enjoyed drawing and designing from an early age. His artistic gifts began to surface while a teenager living in Madison County, Ohio. He won prizes in national competitions for High School in the early 1980's. Encouraged by these early successes, Mark has sought to learn from past as well as present masters of painting. This journey has taken him into a variety of experiences of artistic growth from studying in museums by copying original paintings of well known masters as well as learning from prominent plein air painters of today.
The inspiration to his work comes from the simple beauty of the countryside. Trees, fields, streams, flowers, rustic buildings, pastoral animals, ordinary people and children while engaged in outdoor activity are all subjects of Mark's paintings as he seeks to render the seen as well as the more elusive unseen but felt aspects of God's creation.
He is one of six artists to paint in the Ohio bicentennial project Paint Ohio in 2003. Mark and five other artists ventured into Ohio's 88 counties to explore their histories and unique places in order to be captured on canvas. The paintings were exhibited at the Ohio Historical Society as well as other venues around the state and were sold at auction in the autumn of 2003. A commemorative book was also published entitled The Land We Call Ohio.
Mark and his wife Shana have been married for 30 years and have 5 children. He lives and maintains his studio near West Jefferson, Ohio.
Exhibitions:
| Brandt Roberts Gallery solo show | 2015 |
| American Impressionist Society national show | 2015 |
| BR Galleries solo show | 2014 |
| American Impressionist Society national show | 2014 |
| American Impressionist Society national show | 2013 |
| Brandt Roberts Galleries solo show | 2013 |
| Brandt Roberts Galleries solo show | 2012 |
| Southern State Community College gp show | 2011 |
| Brandt Roberts Galleries solo show | 2011 |
| Ohio State Faculty Club solo show | 2011 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2010 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2009 |
| Columbus Museum of Art group show | 2009 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2008 |
| Southern State Community College gp show | 2008 |
| Clossons Gallery group show | 2007 |
| Dogwood Galleries group show | 2007 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2007 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2006 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2005 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery group show | 2005 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2004 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2003 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2002 |
| Ohio Historical Society group show | 2002 |
| Bryan Roberts Gallery solo show | 2001 |
Awards:
| William Schultz Award for Oils, American Impressionist Society | 2015 |
| Honorable Mention, American Impressionist Society | 2013 |
| Purchase Award, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2012 |
| 1st Place, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2011 |
| Purchase Award, Arnold Sports Festival | 2010 |
| Best of Show, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2010 |
| 1st Place, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2009 |
| Purchase Award, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2007 |
| 3rd Place, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2006 |
| Purchase Award, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2005 |
| Honorable Mention, Ohio Plein Air Society | 2004 |
| Ohio Governor's Mansion award | 2003 |
| Merit Award, Hoosier Salon | 2002 |
| Artist's Magazine, finalist | 1995 |
Publications and Reviews:
| Columbus Dispatch, West Jefferson painter making an impression | Dec 6, 2015 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Palette Pleasers | Oct 20, 2013 |
| Madison Press, Ah, Venice... | Oct 2, 2013 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Gentle joys of summer... | June 21, 2009 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Painters in the Park | Aug 25, 2005 |
| The Land We Call Ohio, coffee table book published | 2003 |
| Madison Press, Local artist tops Paint Ohio Auction | Dec 11, 2003 |
| Madison Press, Gingerich's paintings to be auctioned | Dec 4, 2003 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Portraits of a State | June 15, 2003 |
| Dayton Daily News, Wright's site committed to canvas | April 2003 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Painter's progress | Dec 29, 2002 |
| Madison Messenger, Paint Ohio Project | Dec 23, 2002 |
| The Times Reporter, County sites on canvas | Aug 2003 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Portraits of Ohio | Aug 2003 |
| Madison Press, West Jeff artist to paint Ohio | Aug 2003 |
| Madison Press, Ohio Plein Air... | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Columbus Dispatch, Art imitates Art | Aug 1999 |