We’re all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.
– Oscar Wilde
Mark Evans is a San Francisco-based artist whose work explores the intersection of history and great artistic traditions in the light of the present day. Conceived at precise scale with a variety of traditional and digital tools and materials, his work is crafted to inquire, illuminate, amuse and beguile.
Q & A
Q. Why do you do what you do?
Why do I breathe?
Q. When did you start doing it?
I was born into a family that traveled every three years due to my father’s career in the Air Force. So every three years I had to make new friends and I did that by drawing and painting. It was a form of communication that was a lot easier and enjoyable than awkward small talk. Especially when I was eight!
I guess I was pretty good at what I was creating. I received praise and encouragement and that propelled me to push myself to be better and more skilled. While I was living in Washington, D.C., I spent a lot of time at the National Gallery. You learn a lot when you’re addicted to museums. You learn about history and how art evolves from one period to another.
Of course, my artwork was a refuge from my “normal” life. I could drift off into my fantasies and the world was beautiful and loaded with meaning and purpose.
Q. What keeps you in San Francisco?
My husband. And the food.
Q. If you weren’t in San Francisco, where would you be?
London or Venice.
Q. If you could time travel, where would you want to go?
Golgotha when Jesus was crucified. Gore Vidal wanted to be there too, so maybe we’ll meet up.