Mark Maggiori's Western Paintings Create the Wildest Dreamscapes
via MarkMaggiori.com
Mark Maggiori is a French born Los Angeles based painter classically trained at the renowned Academie Julian whose halls also produced the likes of Matisse, John Singer Sargent and Renoir.
Maggiori was moved by his first trip to America at the malleable age of 15. He, his uncle and cousin made their way from New York to San Francisco by car. The wide open expanses, majestic red rocks of monument valley, and rugged rocky mountains enchanted this otherwise skateboarding Parisian kid. The trip left an indelible imprint of America on him, this sweet memory forever in his imagination, inspiring him to return again to the land.
It was when he met his desert rose and muse, Petecia Lefawnhawk, a talented artist in her own right, that he gained deeper understanding of the west through her native eyes. He followed her across the country through several rolling ghost towns, including Chloride, Arizona, where she grew up. It was then that Maggiori decided he would drop everything he was doing, make an outpost in America and dedicate his life to documenting the American West.
Meticulous in focus, Maggiori embeds himself on the ranch among the cowboys during major round-ups, sleeping in a barn in the bunkhouse with the other hands.
His work skillfully plays with concepts of light and dark – the playful nostalgia of a child wild with dreams of cowboys juxtaposed against a brooding and deeply emotional palette. “He also paints sumptuous nocturnes that would make Frank Tenney Johnson proud—his blues sparkle, subtle shadows dance on the soil, and moonlit clouds balloon out over the desert floor.”* ( Western Art Collector. October 2015)
Mark provides an outsider’s view nestled inside the imaginations of Americans, envisioning for them the untamed nature of a west long since faded. (Western Art&Architecture, Oct 2015)
Creative Inspirations: The Many Musical Faces of Keith Kenniff
Spike Lee & Pharrell Williams on Hard Work & Opportunity
An Artist's Guide to Post-Corporate Life
It's been three weeks since I took the leap from my corporate job and I'm still adjusting to this new freeform lifestyle.
Whether you work out of a home studio or write every day at a coffeeshop, you'll likely relate to this at some part of your journey.
I'm learning these little things about myself that make a big difference to my daily vibe and productivity. Things like:
>>> I have to get out of the house every morning before noon. Even if I wake up early to begin work/writing/recording from home, this is essential to preventing cabin fever and depression in the later hours when I should be getting my second wind.
>>> A little bit of yoga and/or meditation first thing in the morning is a priority.
>>> Schedule early meetings and calls to build momentum.
>>> I actually enjoy cooking my own food fresh now and completing these embarrassing meal prep rituals for the week. I shredded my first organic carrot last night. I own a garlic press now. It's wild if you knew how empty my fridge was before. I no longer have the same excuses, so I make the time which is in turn making me healthier and maybe even more creative.
>>> Time management is something I am way more aware of now, especially when people run late. I have to set all the boundaries for myself which is a tall order. There's no on/off switch when you are hustling as a creative entrepreneur.
>>> I have to give myself a lot of pep talks with the lack of feedback that comes from a 9-to-5 office environment. I'm allowing myself room to grow through it and realizing how much of my identity is still wrapped up in external things. But in the end so many signs are showing me I made the right decision.
I reached out to a few friends of Still Mind and they had a few more notes:
"I will add "take breaks often!" to the list. At first I thought it was a sign of weakness but I've learned it keeps me overall more productive over the course of the day. I have also noticed my endurance has increased over time so the frequency and length of breaks are totally fluid." - Erin Yvonne Stewart Meadows
"I found a book, DAILY RITUALS (I listened to the audio book since I take a lot of road trips) and I found it to be both inspiring and affirming. There are so many variations: people who are creative at night, those who need to drink tons of coffee or lots of liquor or BOTH. Of course, this book is about the creative processes of historical composers, authors, inventors, etc. It's so insightful!! Check it out if you haven't already. I'm still trying to figure out what works for me!" - Lisa Murray