Mark strong, a retrospective catalogue of prints at 203 Fine Art

Mark Strong Woodblock prints

203 FINE ART

Early Moderns to Contemporary

A retrospective of print works by Mark Strong from 1978 to 2017, all pieces available for purchase framed or unframed

1335 Gusdorf Rd . Suite i . Taos NM . 575.751.1262 . www.203FINEART.com

1

La Morada, 4 3/4 x 6" 2 color wood cut/ 1 block, edition of 125, 2000

2

Nickle Hero, 5 3/4 x 4 1/2" 10 color woodcut/ 4 blocks, edition of 75, 2017

Mark C. Strong was born 1949 in Wellington, Texas and grew up in Artesia, New Mexico working the farms and oil field. Mark earned a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology/Sociology from Eastern New Mexico University and married his wife Susan in 1971. Initiated into Pipeliners Local Union 798 straight out of high school he was able to pay for his education with summer pipeline jobs and work/study programs during the school year.

Upon graduation he plied his pipefitting skills on major construction projects from Alaska to Louisiana and between jobs did salvage archaeology for New Mexico State University.

Tired of following jobs around the country Mark moved to Taos, New Mexico in the mid 1970’s (his favorite vacation destination as a child) and securing a position with Columbine Printing was able to pursue in depth a lifelong interest in printing, first sparked using potatoes and finger paint to produce relief prints in elementary school. Operating an offset press was definitely different from woodcuts but provided a valuable education. When the print shop evolved into an internet service provider Mark took his skills to a local natural food store as head purchaser. Retiring in 2016 Mark fills his days with housework and printing multicolor woodcuts on a hand operated Challenge flatbed cylinder press. Mark’s prints are in numerous private collections and in the Harwood Museum of Art permanent collection.

Six carved wood blocks, prior to inking, for print pictured opposite

3

Dessert, 5 3/4 x 4" 13 color woodcut/ 6 blocks, edition of 75, 2017

The Process Relief printing is a process to produce an image from a raised surface. The principle first demonstrated when an ancient man rubbed his palm with ocher and applied it to a rock wall. Woodcuts, designs printed from hand carved blocks of wood, originated in China were refined in medieval Germany and elevated to the sublime in Japan.

Today offers a wide choice of materials that can be used to that end, I’ve experimented with several but personally prefer carving wood. My tools are limited, after transferring an image in reverse to a block of Poplar wood I carve with an X-Acto knife and magnifying glasses.

Each color requires its own block and trip through my hand operated Challenge flatbed cylinder press to build up the finished image. My subject matter is a shout out to everyday life.

4

Recycle, 5 x 2 3/4" 13 color woodcut/ 4 blocks, edition of 85, 2014

5

Smoke & Fire, 6 x 3 1/2" 23 color woodcut/ 7 blocks, edition of 95, 2015

6

Apologies to H. Rousseau, 4 3/4 x 7" 30 color woodcut/ 10 blocks, edition of 95, 2016

7

Random Memories, 4 x 6" 9 color woodcut/ 5 blocks, edition of 55, 2016

wood blocks, prior to carving, for print pictured opposite

8

Getting Dressed, 4 x 5 1/4" 12 color woodcut/ 4 blocks, edition of 85, 2015

9

Seascape with Crab, 4 3/4 x 6 3/4" 22 color woodcut/ 9 blocks, edition of 75, 2016

10

Living Small, 5 x 3 3/4" 5 color collograph & woodcut/ 4 blocks, edition of 85, 2014

Wood blocks for print pictured opposite

12

Cherry, 4 1/4 x 3 1/4" 8 color woodcut/ 3 blocks, edition of 90, 2014

11

Celebrate, 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" 5 color woodcut/ 1 block, edition of 125, 1999

13

Shades, 4 3/4 x 4" 2 color woodcut/1 block, edition of 100, 2000

14

Good For One Fare ,4 3/4 x 6" 7 color woodcut/ 1 block, edition of 100, 2000

15

Millennium Bar, Taos, NM, 5 7/8 x 4" 6 color woodcut/ 3 blocks, edition of 100, 1999

16

Dad's Zippo, 7 3/8 x 6" 4 color woodcut/ 1 block, edition of 90, 1999

17

Triple X Center Stage, 5 7/8 x 8 5/8" 2 color linocut/ 2 blocks, edition of 100, 1978

18

Prelude, 3 1/2 x 7" 5 color woodcut/ 3 blocks, edition of 100, 2014

19

Lady's Butt, 7 3/8 x 8 7/8" 5 color woodcut/ 5 blocks, edition of 50, 1998

(20)

Party's Over, 5 x 5", 2013 11 color Collograph 5 blocks, edition of 100

Price list in the order of appearance 1) La Morada, 4 3/4 x 6", ed. 125, 2000 2) Nickle Hero, 5 3/4 x 4 1/2", ed. 75 2017 3) Dessert, 5 3/4 x 4", ed. 75, 2017 4) Recycle, 5 x 2 3/4", ed. 85, 2014 5) Smoke & Fire, 6 x 3 1/2", ed. 95, 2016

$ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 350

6) 7) 8) 9) 10)

Apologies to H. Rousseau, 4 3/4 x 7", ed 95, 2016 Random Memories, 4 x 6", ed 55, 2016 Getting Dressed, 4 x 5 1/4", ed. 85, 2015 Seascape with Crab, 4 3/4 x 6 3/4", ed. 75, 2016 Living Small, 5 x 3 3/4", ed. 85, 201

$ 375 $ 350 $ 300 $ 375

11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17)

Celebrate, 2 3/4 x 2 3/4", ed 125, 1999 Cherry, 4 1/4 x 3 1/4", ed 90, 2014 Shades, 4 3/4 x 4", ed. 100, 2000 Good For One Fare ,4 3/4 x 6", ed. 100, 2000 Millennium Bar, Taos, NM, 5 7/8 x 4", ed. 100, 1999 Dad's Zippo, 7 3/8 x 6", ed. 100, 1999 Triple X Center Stage, 5 7/8 x 8 5/8", ed. 100, 1978

$ 250 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300 $ 300

18) Prelude, 3 1/2 x 7", ed. 100, 2014 19) Lady's Butt, 7 3/8 x 8 7/8", ed. 50, 1998 20) Party's Over, 5 x 5", ed. 100, 2015 Prices listed above are for unframed works, add $50 for standard frame pictured in catalogue

$ 300

$ 300 $ 350 $ 350

Located just 2 miles south of downtown Taos NM. We are a destination location, open by appointment, for a personalized art experience. Please call or email

1335 Gusdorf RD . Suite i . Taos NM . 575.751.1262 . www.203FINEART.com