MARK SCHIFF
Journeying around the world has ignited artist Mark Schiff’s creativity, which he reveals through his watercolor, acrylic, and oil compositions. “Traveling reminds me that I am part of a vast universe filled with extraordinary places and interesting people,” he says. “The adventure of travel gives me an expansive sense of freedom that often becomes the inspiration for many of my paintings.” His travels have taken him to diverse locations, and he explains that each journey heightens his capacity to embrace a wide spectrum of emotions that serve his creative process.
Heavily influenced by his interest in culture, music, and yoga, Schiff’s ability to be guided by intuition opens him to what he refers to as, “the ocean of creativity within.” It is from this place that he paints with bold, deliberate strokes creating eye-catching paintings that sizzle with energy and command the viewers’ attention.
Above all, Mark Schiff is a believer in the solidarity of humanity. After hearing his father’s experiences during WWII, Schiff was moved by the plight of war, its effect on people, and man’s inhumanity to man. “These stories inspired me to paint as a way to simply bring more beauty into our troubled world.”
MARK SCHIFF ON
I channel my passion for the mystery of life into my painting. Each painting becomes an expression of my connection to life and offers the viewer an expansive invitation to engage in the conversation of living. I love painting with watercolor and acrylic. Both mediums offer me a direct connection to the many concepts found in nature and in my life. With watercolor, I am able to enjoy the spontaneous effects that occur when the paint bleeds and spreads across the surface of the paper. I feel that these effects are a reflection of both the beauty and mystery of the particular medium. Watercolor painting reminds me of the unpredictability of life and the joy of living in the flow of each moment. When painting in acrylic, I love to overlap layers of color to create texture and interest. To me, this layering technique is dynamic, bold, solid and grounded. These are the same qualities that represent a sense of stability in my own life.
