Aloha, and thanks for visiting my blog. I’m a painter living and working in Hawai’i, on the island of Oahu, and the blog is to keep you up to date on what’s going on with my artwork, share experiences and ideas, and hear what you think.
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, I moved to New York City for over a decade to pursue an in-depth study of painting, supporting myself as a freelancer. After over a decade there, the opportunity came to move to Hawai’i.
“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs, ask what makes you come alive, and then go do that. Because what the world needs are people who have come alive.” — Howard Thurman
Please enjoy your visit, and feel free to share your thoughts… I value your comments and suggestions.
Mahalo,
Mark Norseth
I need one of these. Blogs I mean. maybe I’ll get more feedback. It’s good someone like you has one.
The Mt. Tabor 100 year event seemed to get off to a good start today. many plein air artists participated in the paint out so when walking around and chatting with the different artist is was like a free lesson in art. Also info was passed about mediums, workshops approaches etc.. so it’s a good cheap way to get work done and learn from other artists.
Mark, wow – you’re really a wonderful writer! This looks like fun…
I liked what you said about art feeding and elevating our spirits. The arts have always done that for me – I hope true art will always inspire and keep us (somewhat ) safe from the inhumane, sad aspects of our often dark nature. It can calm, excite, provoke, and sometimes remind us of amazing things we always knew to be true – oxox
Mark-
I agree with Mary: you are a wonderful writer. And I have enjoyed your postings enormously; don’t stop writing them.
I liked especially your posting about the old paint boxes. I am in Seoul right now, and I walked into an antique shop yesterday and was confronted by a stack of old calligraphy brushes; long, short, dusty and horse-haired, they all had jade handles with carvings of ducks, turtles, and lions. I think I’ll go back tomorrow and buy one.
Keep writing, all best, & aloha,
Mark O
Mark,
I have a question. What is the best Paint By Number set I should buy? Just Kidding! You really are the best artist in my view in Hawaii. My real question is: What is the best way to protect the surfaces of oil paintings and chalk drawings?
Aloha,
Ross
Hey Ross. Funny, I never got to do Paint by Number growing up. My dad assigned me game birds in charcoal from a book by Walter Foster. I think I can still pull off a Ring-Necked Pheasant.
Clean oil paintings need to be varnished on the surface, and protected from the back. I’m actually writing this after varnishing a painting about 20 minutes ago. If by chalk drawings you are thinking of pastel, then glass on front, preferably UV protective, and something on the back to protect from dampness, insects, and other physical damage. The big problems in Hawai’i are UV rays, insects, moisture/humidity/mildew.
The artist in you makes words flow as smoothly as your oils as you paint pictures in both our minds and canvasses. True artists are captivated by life’s beauty in any form and so you are a true artist living to transform the unseen vibrational symphony into our daily perceptual reailties….joining us all together in a celebration of all that is beautiful…of all that is truth…of all that is God.
Thanks for encouraging us toward the higher arts.
Mark,
You are also a master of painting with words. I truly hope this is the first chapter of the book you are writing at this time. Visual truth and verbal truth…… all on canvas!
Gwen
There’s a bit of drama also. The drama of landscape and the writing that goes with it. Moving people and telling a story.
Mark you are right on the “mark” with your writing, keep it up. Just a little additional note for Ross re: preserving charcoal, pastel, etc.. drawings: When framing, it is important to double mat the work with the inner mat bevel reversed to collect and hide any particulate matter that drops from the work. Also as Mark says under glass not acrylic as acrylic is electrostatic and will draw particles of medium from the work.
wow, I hope you get a few approaching storm subjects . Be careful ! You have totally inspired me to act , with this blog . very nice work Mark ! Great site as well I am upgrading mine now CW
Thanks, Curt.
And for anyone else reading this, if you want to see a living painter who has been a great influence on me, please visit Curt’s site:
http://www.curthansonpaintings.com
That’s the way they do it Uptown.
Mark, your new paintings are insanely beautiful!
Thank you, Mary. I realize that there’s a change just beginning to come around in my work, and it’s good to know that you will be watching. I appreciate it!
Love the Duveneck.
Dear Mark, When I lived on the islands, you know how much I always enjoyed the visits to your home to see your art first hand. Seeing some of it here virtually is a a great way to stay in touch! Please let me know when there are updates. Much Aloha, Mike Heh
Aloha Mark!
Thanks to you and Mary for the encouragement with writing. I’ll keep trying.
Sorry it took me so long to respond…technical issue on my end. I just met someone who knows you; her husband has, like yourself, also written a book on Winslow Homer.
She had just returned from Maine and had pictures on her phone of the interior of Homer’s studio, including a very 1970’s looking kitchen. Kind of funny.
Enjoy Seoul… I lived there at one time. And please stay in touch when you can.
Mark
Would you enjoy sharing any special Norseth “Signature” techniques/enhancements/details that you might incorporate into your efforts ?
Hey GB, I would, and will if anything in particular comes up that is out of the ordinary. Mostly it’s about looking and thinking, and then working.
Maybe some of the different “stylistic” efforts that you have studied and find to be interpreted and used/embelished/personalized by others, over time. Maybe involving the different tools and various media available……….
Hi, Mark, I love your latest work and just found your blog. Now that I am not a raw beginning with no faith in my own work, I look forward to learning from a master like you. I’d love to attend your next demo. I note that in 2010 you had Sat. morning classes…I’d be interested if you were doing that this year…Aloha.
Hi Mark!, I love your studio! Finally, I get to see what your “man art cave” looks like. You’re very orangized. Keep up the great job. You are very inspirational.
Blessings,
Rocky
Hi Sherree, thanks for your comments. I’m not planning any regular outdoor classes this summer, and the demo is usually a kickoff for that. I would like to do an alumni picnic and painting session of former students though, just for fun, and if that happens we’ll make sure you know about it. In the meantime, you can fire any questions my way. And by the way, I’m no master, I’m a student.
Hi Rocky! Good to hear from you, and I hope you continue the good work I’ve been seeing. I think that you’ve made some fine progress. Keep in touch my friend,
Mark
Mark, I love the new work. You know somehow it seems to come more from within. I don’t know why. Maybe you just have a lot of pictures stored up in your head and need to let them out. Beautiful night thing. Really . i hope you complete that one.
Susan
Thanks Susan, and I agree.