
About the Artist
Mark Cleveland is a contemporary visual artist seeking out the unique beauty and connectedness we share in everyday life. He is best known for treatment of light and masculine sensitivity in the portrayal of contemporary urban and natural landscapes. While predominately a painter working in oil, his work echoes the “Ash-can School” of Post-Impressionist American Art employing traditional use of underpainting and glazing techniques to create a rich depth of color and perspective. He is also an accomplished stained glassier which heavily influences the way he captures the spiritual element of light in his work. An avid fly fisherman, he began his career by contributing detailed illustrations to outdoor fishing magazines. A graduate of Northwestern University, he attended classes at the “American Academy of Art" where he focused on use of color and composition. Currently, the artist is exploring the traditional techniques used "en Plein Air" and the figure provided through the Palette & Chisel Academy and Plein Air Painters of Chicago.
"He discovered the amazing beauty and untold stories all around our town. The stories of these buildings and their businesses inspired him to bring masters based techniques to his paintings.”
Evanston Roundtable: The Art of Making Art (July 2021)