King, Mark: 1931 (India)

The Artist:

Mark King was born in Bombay India in 1931, to British parents. He experienced an exotic upbringing for the first 16 years of his life, having been a member of a priviledged family and living in India during the tumulous last days of the British Raj. King was educated at La Martinere College in Calcutta, where he studied botany and art. Following graduation from La Martinere College he moved to England and at Bournemouth College of Art, where he studied painting, sculpture, architecture, and theater design. Subsequently, King invested 10 years as a resident scenic designer at the Oxford Playhouse Theatre, the Old Vic Theatre, and the Scottish National Opera. In 1961 King moved to Paris to study art at Ecole de Beaux-Art and the Louvre. King says that while in Paris, he devoted intense study on the works of old and modern art masters from Cimabue and Masaccio to Goya, Gericault, Turner, Degas, and Bonnard. It was in Paris that King became particularly facinated with painting techniques and the chemical composition and interaction of color. Here he launched the beginnings of a very personal interpretation of light and space, which later defined his creative process.

King loves music; he is an accomplished cellist. Mark King says his study of music, archeology, anthropology, and botany all vastly increase his sensitivity and understanding of art. His love and interest in Persian miniatures enlighten him about Eastern and Western philosophies. King believes they influence his compositions, as well as the mood of his paintings and graphics.

In the relm of the visual arts; in addition to being recognized as a painter and accomplished printmaker, King is always noted for his expertise as a set designer for theater and opera. Interestingly, his set designing experience formed the underpinning of his painting and printmaking style. -- King prepares a foundation for each painting or serigraph, on which he meticulously layers glazes, as a substrata for the five or ten percent of acrylic paint that floats on top of each artwork. The foundation/underpainting visually filters through to the surface of his art and creates an illusion of depth. King's work with strong patterns of brilliant color infuse images with texture. His command over the nature of paint and his vision of the subject matter define his personal style. -- Mark King's art work is shown at USA Artexpo in New York, and California. His art is exhibited in galleries and in private and corporate collections throughout the United States and Europe.

The Art:

Fox Hunt and Bengal Family, shown below, are representative of Mark King's unique style and colorful representation of figures and animals. His screen prints are painterly in style, created with a meticulous layering of colors and glazes. Their surface is rich and tactile, and look like the texture of oil paintings.

Contact us to see: Leopard, Zebra, Spinnakers, and Pulse of the City (58"x 42").

King,Mark86 Mark King. Fox Hunt. 271/325. Serigraph. The paper size is 30" x 40". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil. The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and tactile quality. The print looks as though it is an oil painting and not screened ink. The artwork, margins and art surface, is in pristine condition. Close-Up $2,200.

King, Mark339 Mark King. Bengal Family. 235/325. Serigraph. The paper size is 30" x 40". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil. The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and tactile quality. The print looks as though it is an oil painting and not screened ink. There are handling creases, one in the top and one in the bottom margin. Otherwise, the artwork's margins and art surface are in pristine condition. Close-Up $2,000.

King,Mark87 (This piece is not shown on our site at this time, but is available. Contact us if you would like to see it.) Mark King. Leopard. 265/325. Serigraph. The paper size is 30" x 40". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil. The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and tactile quality. The print looks as though it is an oil paintings and not screened ink. The artwork, margins and art surface, is in pristine condition. Close-Up $2,000.

King,Mark341 (This piece is not shown on our site at this time, but is available. Contact us if you would like to see it.) Mark King. Zebra. 287/325. Serigraph. The paper size is 30" x 40". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and looks as though it were oil paint and not screened ink. The artwork, margins and art surface, is in pristine condition. Close-Up $1,850.

King, Mark340 (This piece is not shown on our site at this time, but is available. Contact us if you would like to see it.) Mark King. Spinnakers. 221/325. Serigraph. The paper size is 30" x 40". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil. The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and looks as though it were oil paint and not screened ink. The artwork, margins and art surface, is in pristine condition. Close-Up $2,200.

King, Mark88 (This piece is not shown on our site at this time, but is available. Contact us if you would like to see it.) Mark King. Pulse of the City. XXXVI/CL. Serigraph. The paper size is 58" x 42". The art was acquired in 1980. The serigraph is signed and numbered in pencil. The ink surface is unusual in that it has a high gloss and looks as though it were oil paint and not screened ink. The artwork, margins and art surface, is in pristine condition. Close-Up $3,200.