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| Welcome to my internet art and video gallery. For a number of years I used this space to sell original works of art, but recent time constraints have forced me to convert this space to a "display only" gallery: A page where folks will be able to view a much wider variety of pieces, none of which (for now, anyway) are available for purchase. First up are my You Tube videos... |
BLAST FROM THE PAST PT. 2: BONE [10.29.06] When Jeff Smith was bringing his Bone series to a close, he picked up the phone and gave me a call, knocking me off my chair with an incredible request: "Hey Mark, would you being interested in illustrating a map of The Valley? I want to use it as endpapers for the upcoming single-volume edition of Bone." As soon as I picked my jaw up off the floor I said, "Yes," and jumped into the project with every scrap of drawing talent I could find within me. At right is the finished result: my one little contribution to the world of Bone. Jeff's invitation remains one of the greatest honors--if not the greatest, period--that I have received during my career in comics. |
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| "Kimono Akiko" |
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| "Klimt Akiko" |
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| "A Rainy Day in Fukuyama" |
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| "The Japanese Grocery Store" |
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| "Getting Started" |
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| "GETTING STARTED" While I was in Japan a few years back I began work on a short comic book story that attempted to capture some of the scenes I came across throughout the trip. Though I soon ran out of time for the project, I like the work I did on it and have decided to keep it on the website for continued viewing.
"Getting Started" was a lot of fun to work on. Most of the illustrations were done on site, right in front of the places you see in the panels. Having done almost exclusively fantasy-themed work over the years, it was an interesting challenge for me to do a story based on my own real life experiences. |
"Kimono Akiko" is a piece inspired by Japanese floral prints and the all-too-brief flowering of the cherry blossom, something I get to see much too little of here in Michigan. It features watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, and gouache.
"007 Billy" is only the second illustration of Billy Clikk I've made available for sale. Billy and Orzamo look like they will be neither shaken nor stirred by any creatches in their path. This illustration also features watercolor, colored pencil, pastel, and gouache.
"Akiko Reading" is an unusual grouping: Akiko, Poog, and Gax. Didn't realize Gax had a secret mechanical arm hidden inside his helmet? Neither did I until I made this illustration! It features watercolor, colored pencil, and just a touch of gouache. |
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| "Kimono Akiko" [7" x 12.5"]: $120 [SOLD!] |
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| "007 Billy" [7.5" x 7"]: $90 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko Reading" [9.5" x 6.5"]: $70 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko's Jet-Board" [6" x 4.5"]: $40 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko's Jet-Board" is a piece reminiscent of artwork I created for the posters included in early printings of the first four Akiko paperbacks. It was created using watercolor, ink, colored pencil and gouache.
"The Whole Gang" is one of just a few pieces currently available that include all five of the main Akiko characters. It features watercolor, ink, colored pencil and gouache.
"Akiko's Fuba" is a whim of mine, an illustration that comes not from any particular Akiko story, but simply popped into my head! It was made using watercolor, colored pencil and gouache. |
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| "The Whole Gang" [9.25" x 7.5"]: $100 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko's Fuba" [8.75" x 5.75"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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| "Mr. Beeba" [4.75" x 2.75"]: $20 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko" [4.75" x 2.25"]: $20 [SOLD!] |
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| "Spuckler" [5.75" x 2.5']: $20 [SOLD!] |
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| "Poog" [4.25" x 3"]: $20 [SOLD!] |
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| "The Prince" [5" x 2.75"]: $20 [SOLD!] |
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| "Gax" [4.75" x 3"]: $20 [SOLD!] |
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Above is a series of small illustrations I did of all the main characters from the Akiko books, plus the Prince. They are available separately, or, for $110, as a complete set. Each was created using watercolors, colored pencil, and gouache.
"Planet Smoo, Page Three" is an extremely rare piece: a hand-colored page from the first Akiko comic book story, "Akiko on the Planet Smoo." Years ago I considered doing a hand-colored edition of the entire 33-page story. After only two pages--I never even started the title page, which would have been page one--I gave up the idea! Having sold 'page two' some time ago, this page is the only one remaining. It features watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and gouache.
"Into Books Big Time" is another in a series of illustrations I've made focusing on reading. This is a nice big piece, featuring a full range of materials: watercolor, ink, colored pencil, pastel, gouache, and a touch of graphite. |
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| "Planet Smoo, Page Three" [12" x 8"]: $180 [SOLD!] |
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| "Into Books Big Time" [11.5" x 9"]: $120 SOLD! |
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| "An Hour's Reading" [9" x 7.5"]: $150 [SOLD!] |
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| "An Hour's Reading" and "A Life Without Books" are two pieces I've created for all the book lovers out there. "An Hour's Reading" features a quotation from Montesquieu that I'm very fond of: "I have never known any distress that an hour's reading did not relieve." It was created using watercolor, ink, colored pencil and gouache.
"A Life Without Books..." is a more light-hearted piece, featuring words cooked up by someone who obviously knows very little about coming up with good quotes! This piece features watercolor, ink, colored pencil, and just a touch of gouache.
"Roasting Marshmallows" is a piece inspired by a recent camping trip with Miki and Matthew in Canada. For once I decided to let Spuckler, not Mr. Beeba, be the one struck by misfortune (a decision that met with hearty approval from Mr. Beeba). This piece features watercolor, ink, colored pencil and gouache. |
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| "A Life Without Books..." [6.5" x 5"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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| "Roasting Marshmallows" [9" x 7"]: $100 [SOLD!] |
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"On the Bullet Train" is one in a series of illustrations I've created showing Akiko and Poog in Japan. It is a tribute to the illustration style of Japanese children's book author/illustrator Akiko Hayashi. Do pick up one of her books if you get the chance; they're lovely!
"Hope I Getta Bite" is a gag that is probably as old as ice fishing itself, but the only one to my knowledge that features Spuckler Boach and a four-eyed fish. It features watercolor, pastel, ink, gouache, and just a touch of colored pencil.
"A Rainy Day in Fukuyama" is a very personal piece that is inspired by a real (if little-known) location in the city of Fukuyama, where Miki and I stay whenever we visit Japan. Long walks are a must for me in Fukuyama, and I like to think Akiko and Poog would enjoy a few of their own if they had the chance. In the background hanging from bamboo poles are bunches of onions, which the Japanese put outdoors in the summer to save them from mold (a detail of Japanese life I never noticed until this most recent visit). This illustration features watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, ink, and gouache. |
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| "On the Bullet Train" [5.5" x 8.5"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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| "Hope I Getta Bite" [14" x 4.5"]: $80 [SOLD!] |
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| "A Rainy Day in Fukuyama" [10" x 8"]: $200 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko the Painter" [6" x 8"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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| "Akiko the Painter" is inspired by the work of children's book author/illustrator Gabrielle Vincent. (If you haven't ever seen her work, by all means check it out!) It was created using watercolor and ink.
"Akiko & Poog Reading" and "Cloudgazing" are illustrations in honor of these last days of summer (which, in Michigan, are slipping away from us all too quickly!). "Akiko & Poog Reading" features watercolor, colored pencil and gouache, while "Cloudgazing" features watercolor, pastel, ink and gouache. |
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| "Akiko & Poog Reading" [6" x 5.5"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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| "Cloudgazing" [9.5" x 6"]: $45 [SOLD!] |
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