Drawing from lived experiences and a passion for storytelling, Kialla artist Mark Almond finds joy in painting and drawing across various mediums.
His artworks range from capturing natural landscapes to intimate portraits of friends and family, each piece reflecting a journey of creativity and exploration.
From a young age, growing up on a farm beside a large family, Mark’s earliest inspiration came from his father.
“I recall my father making mud maps of the farm to create a set of instructions of which gate to open or close or where to set a paddock up for the cows overnight,” Mark said.
“This gestural mark making is the foundation on which I develop my ideas.”
Mark’s figurative art focuses on human movement and the dynamics of everyday life, depicting the challenges and emotions that define our experiences within our surroundings.
He enjoys working with watercolour and exploring composition through photography, computer technology and sketching.
“I found that painting in watercolour allows me to create beauty using light and shadows,” he said.
“The fluid medium mixes in exciting and often surprising ways on the paper and lets me paint the fine details and gestural marks that I love to capture.”
As a visual arts teacher for the past 15 years at St Anne’s College, Mark has had the privilege of working alongside numerous artists, appreciating their insights and techniques.
He enjoys drawing inspiration from his imaginative and creative students and eagerly anticipates carving out more time to focus on his personal projects and jumping back into commission work.
This article originally featured in the inaugural Heart the Art magazine. To read the full feature, head to https://www.sheppnews.com.au/features-and-magazines/heart-the-art/
Email: 99almond@gmail.com
Facebook/Instagram
https://www.facebook.com/PaintMark99/