Artist of the Month - Artista del Mes: Mark Smalley

Written by Mark Smalley

Sunday, 05 April 2009 18:35

Mark Smalley

I see art as an exciting and fulfilling adventure, one which is intrinsically bound up with the journey through life. The

practise of making art provides similar challenges, frustrations, twists, turns and surprises. It is also a process of self-exploration and helps me to understand myself better. For me, art is about bringing something of our inner life into the real world; to make the invisible, visible. When the skill, emotion and imagination of an artist come together at the right moment, amazing and mysterious things can happen.

I’m always curious about the world, and art gives me the freedom to assimilate, experiment, expand my mind, maybe even a way to seek eternal truths. Being creative also allows me to play, to let go of conventions and give free reign to instinct and the subconscious. I am interested in questioning conventional notions of beauty and this is partly why I’m drawn to themes such as aging, decay, impermanence and the grotesque.
Part of the joy of art lies not in finding quick and easy answers, but in the revelation of further questions and pathways. I like the way fate and synchronicity seem to play their part in the artistic process. It amazes me how often the chance discovery of an artist’s work or technique can inspire me to set off down a different road or lead me back to look at something again with fresh eyes.

Go to Mark Smalley's Gallery

Mark Smalley
http://www.ukartpottery.com/mark-smalley-4343-0.html
http://yareah.com/marksmalley/

Mark Smalley was born in Macclesfield, England and for the past fourteen years has lived near Stoke-on-Trent in

Staffordshire. His first degree was a B.A. Honours in Modern Languages from the University of Leeds and he also holds an M.A. in Creative Technology. He has worked in several fields as a linguist, academic and teacher and now devotes the majority of his time to artistic endeavours. He is a self-taught artist and has had a lifelong passion for oil painting and sculpture. As a ceramic artist, he enjoys creating both functional pottery and sculptural pieces, many of which have been purchased by collectors in the U.K. and overseas.

Last Updated ( Monday, 15 March 2010 20:03 )