Mark vanderVinne

Statement and bio brief.

There is a serenity to Mark’s landscapes that is immediately appealing. His work evokes places to pause and reflect, often without the intrusion of mankind or his objects. Yet, the emotions and motifs underlying the paintings are commonly very human in nature. It is this deep connection with the landscape and his own feelings that Mark emphasizes in his work. Themes of individuality, renewal, sadness, hope and journey can be found if one looks deeply. And this contrast is continued in his approach to painting. Luminous light and atmosphere fill his paintings with an honest sense of place, while one can get lost in the luscious brushwork of thin and thick applications of paint that evoke ideas of abstraction, tonalism and impressionism. All of this set within his strong understanding of composition and design.

While based in representional painting, Mark’s influences are many and varied: from the Dutch landscapes of the 17th Century to the Luminists and Tonalists of the Hudson River School to the French & American Impressionists to contemporary artists such as Scott Christensen, Richard Schmid & Stuart Shils. In fact, he likens his own style as Tonal Impressionist, and admits, that’s probably not exactly accurate. However, it does convey the idea that the Eastern and Western American painting theories are met in the Midwest, where Mark was raised, lives and paints the local landscape.

While he has drawn for as long as he can remember, Mark didn’t start painting until much later. For Mark, learning how to paint really didn’t start until he attended the American Academy of Art, in Chicago, IL. At the Academy, Mark practiced daily the fundamentals of art, taking classes in many different media as well as in illustration and advertising. 

After art school, Mark worked as a freelance illustrator and designer, before ending up in the design and advertising industry. After many years, Mark took to his art again — first with pastels and then with oils. He hasn’t stopped since. He currently lives in Porter, IN with his wife and three children.