Mark is best known as a painter. During the process of preparing some paintings for framing, he trimmed them using a paper cutter, “and the light bulb did go on,” he said. “The trimmings lay there next to the paper cutter, and I thought they were intrinsically interesting. I liked the random design of the cuttings.” And so began a series of compositions that are mostly spontaneous. Mark does allow himself some creative leeway if he thinks a collage could be tweaked; but for the most part these works are testament to letting the scraps fall where they may.
Pictured: Random #19, Mark Mehaffey
Random Generosity For Kids
An enthusiastic plein air painter, Mehaffey is linking his interest in alfresco landscape painting with Random in another way. A portion of the sales from Random will be directed to the GAAC’s Youth Plein Air Month. This children’s event takes place July 1 – 31. It’s a chance for kids ages 6-12 to be introduced to the techniques and challenges of open-air painting. Mehaffey, who taught visual art in the public schools for 30 years, will be one of several painters offering instruction.
Click on the GO DEEPER tab to read more about Mark, and to watch a recorded interview with the artist.
Years ago now, I did a series of paintings that started with (maybe) random marks on paper, and then built from there. The titles were all Random Marks. (Yes, I know, sort of a play on my name also) This began a lengthy discussion with a number of friends and artists about “random.” Many questions evolved. Is anything in the universe truly random? And of course, that lead to another lengthily discussion about the universe, our place in it, and God(s). Even if we try to make a random mark, even with eyes closed, the result is the result of everything in our life that has come before. Not to mention the physics involved, i.e. viscosity of liquid, force use, gravity, material used and so on. So again I ask, Is anything truly random? You get to answer that but I’m happy to discuss it over dinner, your treat.
