Mark Hoffmann for D Magazine

Will your kids be happy campers this summer? From Spanish immersion to paleontology camp, D Magazine handpicked some of the most exciting options in the Dallas, TX area. All that was needed was a terrific illustration to draw the reader in.  

Art director, Jamie Laubhan-Oliver, decided on Mark Hoffmann for the job. Mark let his imagination lead the way, resulting in this playful, folksy piece that is sure to put a smile on your face as you remember those long days of summer past.

Illustrator Mark Hoffmann - Happy CampersMark Hoffmann, Happy Campers Article in D MagazineBrowse Mark Hoffmann's portfolio on i2i Art.

Mark Hoffmann's Mural at the Montserrat Gallery

The exhibition SEVEN: A Peformative Drawing Project at the Montserrat Gallery was a perfect opportunity for illustrator Mark Hoffmann to spread his creative wings even further. Mark, along with six other artists, put their creative process on display by executing a large mural on one of the gallery's walls in an open studio environment. The mural itself was meant to be the "residue of an artistic performance." We found both the process and the final product pretty spectacular.  

Mark Hoffmann's 'Men of Mountains' Mural

Mark Hoffmann Mural

 Close up of Mark Hoffmann's lettering

Mark Hoffmann Mural Close Up

 

We chatted with Mark Hoffmann after the show...

 

i2i Art: How were you approached with this project?

Mark: Leonie Bradbury (the gallery director at Montserrat College of Art, where I teach) contacted me in the fall to see if I had any interest.  They usually try to get one faculty member involved and thought I would be a good fit with the other artists.

 

i2i Art: Was this your first mural?

Mark: Yes, and it was quite overwhelming.

 

i2i Art: Tell us about the piece.  What was your inspiration?

Mark: I really wanted to paint a giant horse and started to research. Somehow I ended up reading about the early exploration of what would later become the first national park of the U.S., Yellowstone. In my research I found the story of the Cook, Folsom, Peterson expedition to explore and survey the land. I thought this might make a fun image with them, a horse, and geysers. I also had a previous color palette worked out that I wanted to apply to the piece.

 

i2i Art: What was it like working on that scale?

Mark: Difficult. It's hard to get a sense of the scale until it is right in front of you. I found that I had to stand back and look at it a lot, otherwise I wouldn't take the scale into full consideration.

 

i2i Art: The gallery was open while you were working on the piece, tell us about the atmosphere.

Mark: As I was working, quite a few folks stopped in to look, but very few chatted with me. They later told me they were afraid to interrupt. I must look deep in thought when I paint. It was nice to have the freedom to paint and explore at that scale and really knock people over with an image.

 

i2i Art: Do you have any tips, tricks or lessons learned you want to share?

Mark:  I realized that some of the techniques I planned to use are hard on that scale and surface. Use a paint with primer in it (I used house paints) so you don't have to apply it twice to get good coverage. Bring plenty of Aleve and Tylenol, the work can be a little back breaking.

Hyperlapse: Watch Mark Hoffmann's mural come to life

http://youtu.be/RNxRIeZmY-Y

 

On view through March 28, 2015 at the Montserrat Gallery.

Mark Hoffmann offers a playfulness to his americana, folk art style.  View Mark's entire portfolio.

 

 

 

 

Tim Zeltner for the Riverdale Farm

When the Riverdale Farm's Stewardship Group first approached i2i art to commission a whimsical yet functional map of the Riverdale Farm, Tim Zeltner was chosen for his rich hand painted folk art style (actually painted on wood), and the journey to discover and depict the Farm in all it's wonder began!  Below you will see Tim really captures this gem in the heart of downtown Toronto.  The map illustration will be used on marketing materials and a give-away map for visitors.  To see more of Tim Zeltner's magical paintings visit his updated portfolio here.  

Recently I attended the wonderfully successful Riverdale Farm Aid 2014 benefit, which thanks to all the enthusiastic support and dedication of it's volunteers and the community, raised the grand sum of $24,000!  At the event, the map (commissioned by the RFSG) and created by Tim Zeltner was unveiled. and large archival prints were auctioned off to benefit the farm.

Tim Zeltner donated the original painting below to The Farm where it will be housed in the main 'Residence'

©Tim Zeltner_TZ444_i2iArt
©Tim Zeltner_TZ444_i2iArt

Below is one of the large archival quality prints Tim donated being auctioned off at the event!

Riverdale_Auction
Riverdale_Auction

There was a terrific crowd and the fundraising was a big success!

Riverdale_Audience
Riverdale_Audience

An awfully cute wooly resident of the farm, not too bothered by the crowd that night nibbles on some fresh local produce.

Riverdale_Farm_Sheep
Riverdale_Farm_Sheep

The fabulous Lemon Bucket Orkestra:  A big hit!

Riverdale_Music_Parade
Riverdale_Music_Parade

Tour the Farm, visit the animals and chat with the farmer during daily chores.  It's a delightful way to spend a day in the 'country' without leaving the city!

More information here:  Riverdale Farm's Facebook page | Riverdale Farm (City of Toronto Web site)

Congratulations to the Riverdale Farm Stewardship Group and thank you for caring so much and working so hard to preserve this very important part of the city of Toronto!

Mark Hoffmann: Enormous Tiny Art Show #13

Mark Hoffmann has been having big fun creating smallish art for the Enormous Tiny Art Show #13!  His naive visual vocabulary is, as always, full of wit with an underlying deeper wisdom.  Of his art, Mark says, "The work is meant to be perfect through its imperfections. The boards I paint on are warped and frayed around the edges. Perspectives, proportions, compositions and colors are intentionally left awkward to add to the conversation."

The show runs from February 1-25.  Check out the huge selection of art (no larger than 10″ x 10″) for sale at very reasonable prices here.  Better move fast because some have already sold before the sale has officially begun!

If you're local attend the opening at the Nahcotta Gallery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Friday February 1st, 5-8pm.

Here are a few of our faves from the featured Mark Hoffmann collection:

Enormous Tiny Art Show paintings ©Mark Hoffmann/i2iart
Enormous Tiny Art Show paintings ©Mark Hoffmann/i2iart