My Burden originated as a poem about the burden of the creative process in relation to a painter, then put to a track of improvised music. It came together very much like one of my paintings. First is the drum track (the under-painting, or the ‘bed’), then added the bass track (a sketch, or outline), added some splashes of color with three separate guitar tracks and lastly, highlighted it all with the spoken word over the top. All done in one take, with no eraser and no editing; raw and fluid with little study periods in between each layer.  It’s a long winded answer to the oft asked question…’how long did it take you to paint this?’ 

My Burden

——————

an inspiration
listen to the world around you
absorbing, digesting, ruminating
a spark, a thought
something triggered, pondered
find the message
paper, pencil, canvas, paint brush, varnish
sketching, dreaming, sketching, envisioning
apply to canvas, start it over
re-examining, refining, timing
the right energy, the right state of mind
concentration
or the ability to let go
let the painting flow, onto the canvas
reading the painting, proofreading the painting
sometimes starting all over again
mistakes, corrections, balancing, composing
re-composing,
set the tone
now it’s working
now it’s flowing
can’t stop
interruptions
back to the start
finished
sign it, shine it, ride it, photograph it
write about it
post to facebook, post to website
talk about it, hang it, show it, show it
talk about it, talk about it, talk about it
show it, talk about it, talk about it
sell it
package it, ship it, deliver it, profit
buy canvas, pay rent, buy paint, pay bills, pay taxes
and buy a cup of soup.

you can listen  here .

released 03 November 2011
Written by Mark Anthony King
Produced by Gary Ketaily
Vox, Guitars, Bass : Mark Anthony King
Drum Programing: Gary Ketaily

Forgiven

Forgiven

Forgiven is an image of your worst enemy, in a different light.

You choose who it represents.

He is holding his head apologetically.

His heart is burning for forgiveness yet it is bound by our anger.

The blood is representative of the blood spilled by Christ forgiving us all.

It illustrates that we are all sinners – yet worthy of forgiveness.

We could all be somebody’s worst enemy, or best friend.

We need to learn to let go and forgive – even our worst enemy, at times ourselves.

Only then can we begin to heal and move forward.

As long as we harbor hatred and anger in our hearts

We are as bound by it as those we direct it towards, in effect

Repeating the cycles that keep us from reaching our true potential.

Forgiven, 40″x30″ acrylic, mixed media $10,000

Peers Comment on Forgiven

“You are amazing. Your words are as brilliant and deep as
your paintings. My favorite is Forgiven. I love that one. “Holding
his head apologetically” I can see it. It is dark, but not. Somehow it
comforts me.”

“If I didn’t know you, I might have thought those were the paintings of
a woman. Don’t take offense, but I don’t know very many men who think
so deeply. And poetically. They are somewhat of a contradiction to me
too. They are dark and romantic at the same time…for me. I don’t have
any idea what other people will see.”  Jennifer Yoswa ~ Artist

“I would question whether an immediate visual decision is overlooking the beauty, though; certainly it is overlooking the intent. That’s not a necessarily bad thing, IMO. Visual art, like music, is amazing in its capacity to transcend language.”

I would not have guessed at the intent of this painting as expressed in your words. I thought of shamanism, magic, some sort of blood ritual perhaps. One of the things I’ve always enjoyed is hearing other people talk about what my paintings make them think of, what they mean to them. It’s often a little of the mark I had in mind, but it’s always enlightening to me to hear these interpretations. Again, I really like the painting- the first of yours I’ve seen.” – Katie Hoffman ~ Artist

“Great painting there home boy- I’d be proud to say I did it. I’m reading De Profundis by Oscar Wilde right now- he portrays Christ better than anyone I’ve ever read. You should get it.
Heavy stuff Mark- two kudos.” – Lance Green ~ Artist

Crashing Paper Airplanes

Crashing Paper Airplanes is about bottling up & letting go. It’s about learning when you’re young that there are feelings you ‘should’ repress & then finding, as you mature, that perhaps that is not the right course of action. If one does not find an outlet they may well become self destructive or abusive in their adult relationships.

Luckily I have a creative outlet, my art and my music. Not everyone is lucky enough to find a constructive outlet for repressed feelings. Some continue crashing their paper airplanes all through their lives.

Here’s to helping those that you may know find a creative, positive way to release the tension and stress that we all experience. If you know a young person with issues, offer them guidance and teach them compassion. If you do this for even one person in your life, the future will be wide open for them.

Cheers!

MAK

You My Matter

The Hollow Exhibition is an art event themed around self-image issues such as body image, depression, anorexia, insecurity and more.

The artists involved were asked to create works that explore these issues in a way that is personal to them; exposing private and personal memories and emotions that have touched or still touch their lives. These depictions may be shown in a positive light or may reveal the reality of living under the oppression of these issues.

The Hollow Exhibition aims to have the viewers come to understand the reality and the power of accepting one’s self the way we are and moving forward into healing and freedom.

The exhibition is being held on September 30th – October 2nd, 2011 @ 2003 South Halsted Street in Chicago, IL

Find out more about The Hollow Project:
www.thehollowproject.com

Mark Anthony King

If You Believe Original Acrylic 48”x 60”

If You Believe is an image of self. It’s an image of our limitations on ourselves and where we place those limitations. It depicts a person floating in space. If ‘the sky is the limit’, then what’s beyond that and how do we get there? We are taught at a young age that we can do whatever we wish to do with our lives. We are taught that we can accomplish anything we set our minds to accomplish. It’s been proven time and time again by many throughout history. Yet as we mature, many of us are gradually walled into attaining a certain lifestyle. Many of us reach a certain standing in society, get comfortable with where we are and stop. The helmet is a metaphor of that limited view, of being able to see what’s ahead of us, but forgetting to look back to the more lofty dreams and ideas we had as children. This is a painting meant to remind us to keep dreaming, to keep wishing, to keep believing. If you believe, it can be. There are no limits which are not self-imposed.

The Man Who Painted Trees