Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Zlotkowski.
Mark, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I attended the University of Illinois in Champaign Urbana in the mid-’80s where I majored in painting and minored in printmaking. After graduation, I spent several years working odd jobs; as an engraver, construction worker and then as a horticulturist. It was during that time that I developed my love for gardening.
After a few years of bouncing around, I decided I needed to take a leap of faith in myself and my work and go back to school to get my Master’s Degree. In 1992, I received my MFA in painting from Northwestern University and three months later I was teaching at DePaul University. That was 26 years ago, and I haven’t stopped teaching or painting since.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I’m a painter.
I paint out of necessity ~ I wouldn’t say that painting centers me as much as it reveals me.
I want people to take the time to really look into and engage my work. I think of painting as visual poetry- an inference based not on reason but a suggestion.
When asked to describe what my ‘style’ of art is, I would hope that I am creating a genre of my own. Spiritual abstractionist? Symbolic, Abstract Spiritual painter perhaps? It’s an ever-changing style occurring.
In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
I think artists too often feel they need to develop a recognizable style and then end up repeating that style if they have a success with it.
Change is good, so is a financial success but we have to keep challenging ourselves through our work. There are many more lucrative ways to financial success than being a painter. For me, painting is a calling, not a business.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I will have a couple of painting on exhibition at the Tall Grass Arts Gallery opening on January 19th. in a show called Pentimento In Park Forest, IL.
You can follow me on Instagram @ airgardener or my website:
or email me to do a studio visit:
mzlotkow@sbcglobal.net
The only way to really experience it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.markzlotkowski.com
- Email: mzlotkow@sbcglobal.net
- Instagram: airgardener
Image Credit:
Cover Photo – JaNae Contag
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