Interview

Written By Adelé Kotzé

Mark Shevetone

Born in Beacon NY, Mark is an artist based in Las Vegas known for his impressionist paintings that capture people, places and all the events in his life. Timeless and tasteful, or modern and messy, images in his life demand to be examined. Mark mainly uses acrylic paint to create highly textured, three-dimensional works on canvas. A graduate of San Jose State’s art program, Mark’s first influence was his great uncle Alfred Pizzarelli, an artist from New York City in the 1950’s until the 1960’s. He used to look at all Alfred’s wonderful paintings and wonder “Who are these people?” and think they were trying to speak just to him by way of expressions and surrounding colors. Mark’s paintings are meant to burst with energy, life and texture hoping that they might speak to the viewer in some way. You can catch Mark’s artwork around Las Vegas in restaurants, wineries and local galleries. When Mark’s not working, he’s spending time with his wife Alicia and their English bulldog Belma hoping to catch the next expression to put on canvas.

 

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“I'm a graduate of San Jose State’s art program. My first influence was my great uncle Alfred Pizzarelli, an artist from New York City in the 1950’s until the 1960’s. I used to look at all Alfred’s wonderful paintings and wonder “Who are these people?” and think they were trying to speak just to me by way of expressions and surrounding colors.”

What does your work aim to say? Does it comment on any current social or political issues?

“My work really tries to connect the common threads of us all. By color or expression, I want the viewer to be drawn in and feel the emotions we all have. To realize that despite our differences we are pretty much all the same deep down.”

Do you plan your work in advance, or is it improvisation?

“My work is mostly improvisational. I will see something that inspires me, and then try to express that vision on canvas. What I start with in my mind and what ends up on canvas is completely two different things.”

Are there any art world trends you are following?

“I'm really following quite a few local artists. There's just so much great art, and complex visions that I really just try to sit back and be amazed.”

What process, materials and techniques do you use to create your artwork?

“I call my process a cascade of mistakes that end up on canvas. I used to paint in oil but I found I was too impatient waiting for the oil to dry. So I switched over to acrylic so I could quickly keep with the flow of my improvisation.”

“My work really tries to connect the common threads of us all.”

 What does your art mean to you?

“My art means so much. Not only does it create a sense of pride, it's also fun to create! I love turning on some music and let the world fade away while I paint. I like creating and then seeing what others thing about what I created. I love the challenge of trying to get better. I also enjoy looking back at some of my earlier work and asking myself "How in the world did you do that?" Most of all, I enjoy the evolution process and attaching some of my work to certain time periods in my life.”

What’s your favorite artwork and why?

“I guess my favorite painting would be "Alhemo". It's a setting in Nara Park, Japan. It really brings out the vision of dusk turning to night. I like the deeper rich colors and the anticipation of what the night can bring. Living in Las Vegas, NV I know that the possibilities of the night are endless. And I would like to think that same excitement can happen anywhere in the world.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“I've had a pretty busy 2023. Here's a few exhibitions I have been in with my eye on 2024: Agora Gallery NY: March 7th Group Exhibition; Artio Gallery NY: April 17-22 Status Champange Lounge Residency - Venetian Las Vegas, NV; Xanadu Gallery - XAC - Scottsdale, AZ; O'Hanlon Center for the Arts - Autumn's Palette, Mill Valley, California; Jones Gallery - November Group Art Show, Kansas City, MO; Redwood Art Group - Art Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM; Naturalist Gallery of Contemporary Art - Landscape Collection Oct 29-Dec 28th; HMVC Gallery - "Blu Bamboo" 3rd place show winner! November Vibrant Visions Show, New York, NY; KBM Art Gallery - Group Exhibition: Tranquil & Thankful, CA; Red Bluff Art Gallery - FLoRA & FauNA, CA; KBM Art Gallery - Group Exhibition: Any Art, Any Time CA.”

 
Adelé Kotzé
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