Neo-Modernism - Fall Modernism Show, Palm Springs
Earlier this year (2023) James Bacchi (JBC Contemporary) invited me to paint a few pieces for the Fall Modernism show. JBC will have a booth at the Palm Springs Convention Center from October 20 through 22, where he will showcase my new paintings along with thematic works by other contemporary artists.
“VINTAGE 20TH CENTURY AND INTRODUCING CUTTING EDGE 21ST CENTURY DESIGNS FOR THE HOME. THE 9TH ANNUAL PALM SPRINGS MODERNISM SHOW - FALL EVENT WILL FEATURE 45 PREMIER NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS DEALERS PRESENTING VINTAGE 20TH CENTURY FURNITURE, DECORATIVE AND FINE ARTS, AS WELL AS 21ST CENTURY CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS.”
Learn more about the Fall Modernism show at here!
“New Modernism: The Rowan”
55.25 X 47.25 X 1 acrylic on canvas
2023 - Mark D. Powers
The de Young Open 2023
I am thrilled to be included in the de Young Museum second invitational salon-style exhibit of local Bay Area artists. The show runs through January 7th and that’s a very good thing because you’ll want to revisit again and again to learn more, and see what you missed. Most of the work is for sale directly from the artists, and available at the conclusion of the show.
Ventura Beach
I recently took a painting-delivery trip from San Francisco to Palm Springs. On the return leg we stopped in Oxnard and Ventura, cozy beach “towns” with very cool vibes…perfect for gathering imagery for future painting adventures. Here are some favorites, including this Work in Progress (WIP):
Raindrops in Focus
Here’s my very latest piece, Three Windows (June 2023, 18X24 acrylic on canvas), It’s part of an evolving “raindrops” series that focuses mostly on views from the passenger’s perspective, driving around California in the rain. I’ve submitted it to a museum show and have fingers crossed it makes the cut! As such, I’m not offering it for sale anywhere quite yet.
While painting hundreds and hundreds of droplets, I think a lot about where in the composition the eye will be drawn, how to create unity throughout the artwork, and “How many times do I need to paint every darn drop until they start to be believable?” (it’s a lot, evidently).
A thing that fascinates me about raindrops on a window or windshield as they appear in photos, or reality for that matter, is that sometimes the eye (lens) looks at the droplets in every minute detail, while the background is blurred, and sometimes the eye/lens looks beyond all of that to focus (sic) on something very specific beyond the drops (in turn, blurring the raindrops a bit). This new painting of Stinson Beach off season shows that effect: the droplets are fuzzier, while the guard shacks are more in focus. In my Three Windows piece, the droplets ARE the focus, while the windows, figure, and building are out of focus. If I had made those elements more clear, the piece would look muddy and the drops would feel like they are somehow stuck to the building. It’s that very difference in focal points that creates the illusion of drops on the window (among other tricks).
These raindrop pieces have me really tuned into focal points lately, whether manipulated or constructed in the composition. Each raindrop is a world within a world, so to speak, with it’s own layers of focus, so one gets to decide how much focus is needed.
I’m interested in using maybe three value shifts to make the viewer’s eye see a believable raindrop. Anything more feels over-painted. Anything less is, just less, or an outline at most.
It’s an evolving understanding, for sure, and I’m enjoying the journey!
Campy
I snapped this Airstream on I-5 on the way to Palm Springs, just knowing it’d become a painting. And here it is! 30”X30 acrylic on canvas - “Road Trippin’ on I-5” - 2023. Now Available in Palm Springs through the esteemable James Bacchi Contemporary
Will Jewel for Food
Help support the SF Marin Food Bank with an art purchase during Studio Gallery’s benefit auction!
(update: SOLD - thank you to Studio Gallery for inviting me to participate)
Auction for San Francisco-Marin Food Bank - February 23rd - 26th, 2023
I am excited to have “Jewels of the Shreve” included among so many fine works of art that will be auctioned to benefit the SF-Marin Food Bank. By purchasing art from this cool auction, you’ll help the Food Bank continue to provide food for more than 53,000 households each week.
“Jewels of the Shreve” is my latest Gallery Nocturne painting. It depicts artist Sandy Ostrau’s 11/2021 twilight opening at Dolby Chadwick Gallery, in San Francisco. The view is from the second floor of the NorthFace store on Grant. In case you are wondering, that’s gallerist extraordinaire Lisa Dolby Chadwick in the middle window, chatting with collectors.
"Jewels of the Shreve" 18 X 24 X 1.5 - acrylic on panel 2022 by Mark D, Powers
Modernism - Crushing Velvet
See Mark’s new painting Crushing Velvet during Modernism Week 2023 - Palm Springs
(June 2023 update: this piece has sold) Toward the end of 2022, I was approached by the esteemable James Bacchi, long time friend and owner of James Bacchi Contemporary, about painting a favorite image that he had captured at a Palm Springs swap meet. And the rest, as they say, is history…
See Crushing Velvet in Palm Springs - February 18, 2023 (link)
This super fun and challenging painting is based on an image I would not have normally picked to paint (I rarely paint other people’s images). However, I was happy to trust James’ eye and I just went for it. It was so liberating. How glad I am!
In the process of solving the many challenges of this painting, I fell in love with those darn velvet couches. Their backwardly reflective surface and color-shifting warmth eventually became more natural to paint, meaning I could go back and forth into velvety areas without fear, striving to make sure the whole painting worked together to become a “place”.
As I added the swap’s various treasures and trinkets, and the mountains, and that lamp, and the people…the entire image came alive for me and art-magically became a painting with which I’m incredibly happy.
I invite you to see it for yourself. If you are in the Palm Springs area on February 18th, please visit The Shops to see the piece in person and meet the notorious James Bacchi, himself!
Palm Springs Inspirations
I live in San Francisco and consider it to be just about the most perfect place in the country. From the light and geography, to the people and cityscapes, there is so much beauty and artistic inspiration everywhere (I’m not planning to move). However, it can also be amazing to find wonder in different geographies even when one lives in paradise!
On another recent trip to Palm Springs I was inspired to create four new paintings focused on Mid Century architecture, palm trees, and desert life. I completed these pieces in my San Francisco studio based on my own reference images. One of the paintings is already on display in Palm Springs.
As with my first Palm Springs piece, Boozehounds, I’m increasingly inspired to paint window reflections and architectural details. I’m also learning to love painting palm trees in a desert setting and capturing those long shadows from the morning sun.
(Please Click Here to see additional details of these pieces in my website gallery). Keep reading below to learn more about my inspiration for each of the pieces:
Temple Isaiah: I am struck by this peaceful setting with its minimalist landscaping and unique window reflecting the mountains. I challenged myself to capture the serenity of the morning. (Click for article about the Temple).
Bank of America: I am starting a series of “intersection” pieces. I find buildings and things at crossroads to be interesting destinations, convergences, and points of departure. There are countless invisible and compelling stories in such places. Unbeknownst to me at the time, this particular building is about to undergo a major renovation that will remove the blue paint and restore it to its original tan color. I’m glad I was able to capture the structure at this moment in history, as it will likely never look like this again. (Click to Article) about the renovation.
100% Desert Hand Car Wash: I think old car washes are cool, and 70-year-old Desert Hand Wash is no exception, During my visit it was 112-degrees outside and a drought placed limits on some business activities, but even empty there’s something inviting about that turquoise and white paint in the bright sun. It just screams “come get clean.” (Click to visit car wash website).
Coachella Sunline: Palm Springs is in the Coachella Valley, which is linked together by a rather remarkable public transportation system. I thought this was a cool image of an STA clean-air bus, bracketed by palm trees, as it picks up passengers headed toward Coachella. Yeah, it’s just a picture of a bus, but it represents such a specific sense of place and destination, and I thought the long shadows were kinda cool.
Palm Springs - Boozehounds
(update: this piece has sold) I was recently in Palm Springs delivering some works of art, and I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to capture that special desert morning-light.
Here’s the first painting based on that trip (image of Almac Camera in studio)!
It’s acrylic on canvas, 36 X 48, and available in Palm Springs exclusively through James Bacchi Contemporary.
Originally called DINKS (dual income no kids), Boozehounds is a popular hangout for locals and visitors alike. It’s a stylish restaurant where dogs are super-duper welcome, offering brunch, cocktails & Southern California plates.