-By JJ Palencar
The guys at Sidebar having been busy providing the arts community with priceless interviews from some of our favorite established artists and illustrators…..
Since no one has posted this…. here’s a great interview from a couple of weeks ago with the noted artist and illustrator, Mark English. Mr. English has won more awards then any other artist at the Society of Illustrators Annual competition. He now focuses his energies in the fine art gallery market.
In 1980 I had the opportunity to attend the Illustrators Workshop on scholarship awarded at the Society of Illustrators Student Competition. It was my senior year in art school. That year, the workshop was held in Paris, France. The attendees were divided into various groups and I was in Mr. English’s group. He did a wonderful demo in oil on an existing print of his work. Mark’s versatility and technical knowledge regarding paint and design were quickly soaked up by our eager minds. The Workshop has launched many careers in illustration …. including mine. During the Workshop, Bob Peak bought me a cup coffee while we sat in a cafe that faced Notre Dame cathedral. Those were the days my friends!
Mark English Interview @ Sidebar
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| A partial page from the Workshop Brochure. |
I'd never seen the Einstein piece before. Thanks for posting these! Mark is a legend.
Another one of those guys who made me drool and want to be an illustrator. Thanks John.
Bill and Colin – It's sad, Mark English and Fred Otnes are they only two that remain from the group. These guys were the Stars of the day. Their influence lasted a good decade and a half. They all had different signature styles…. there was a sense of class and presence in all of their work. We all aspired to be like them.
what i find surprising is that there are really no art books out there showcasing these amazing artists work. I know Mark English has one and there are some collections of Peaks work here or there but thats it. I have had to hunt down Fuchs and other illustrators work via tear sheets as there was no collection. Here are some samples of 60's work from
Fuchs
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattdicke/sets/72157625369781729/
Peak
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattdicke/sets/72157626474628559/
and English Otnes and Sickles
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattdicke/sets/72157626690582114/
enjoy
Hi Matt – Thanks! Looks like it is some of their early work from the sixties. Nice find.
JJP
David Apatoff did a recent post at Illustrationart.blogspot.com about Mark English. He has a very informative blog and lively discussions in the comments.