Work in progress

Here is a quick sketch for my next painting. Not quite sure about the title.... it's a work in progress, so more to come. 

Exercising the Demon

"Exercising the Demon" 18 X 24 Oil on Panel 2013

Concept

The concept for this piece is basically about the relationship between people and dogs. I live in a neighborhood setting in Eugene, Oregon, and I go for a lot of walks. I am always seeing people with their dogs. I live next to a dog park, my brother and his wife own a dog, and most of my friends have dogs too. It is such a common thing that I bet most people don't really think much about it. I like that....taking the simple everyday things and turning them into something fantastical. Seeing this mundane daily routine of people exercising their canines, stirred something in my mind, causing me to come up with all sorts of "what if...." scenarios. Maybe I don't trust dogs. More than one of my friends has had their faces actually mangled and mauled by their beloved pet. To me, the dog's dependency on a human owner feels really uncomfortable. .....also, I might add, I am a cat person.  

Narrative     

Lately, more and more I have been building a fantasy world in my mind. This place is called, "The Commonwealth of the Yod-Ninivish". In short, it is a Victorian world with strong ties to the Medieval ages, a world filled with magic, witchcraft, the occult and actual living, breathing, demons. The Commonwealth of the Yod-Ninivish is a fairytale world that I use to create allegorical connections with the actual occurrences and observations that I make on a regular basis. It helps me make meaning. 

The narrative for this painting goes something like this: Occultist "Dr. Herbert Lewiston Milderstone " (feel free to make up your own name :)) is talking the demon out for a walk. He doesn't really feel like doing it today, but having a demon is a responsibility, and being a responsible demon-owner, he is going to man-up and do his duty. I was thinking of a Freemason-like character, who maybe stumbled upon the ancient secret of how to summon up this bizarre floating creature for some clandestine purpose. Maybe he belongs to a secret society, and maybe this demon is part of a some master plan.... we will never know. But, what the Occultist character never realized was the burden and responsibility that would come with owning a demon, the day-to-day chores and duties. Sure maybe the demon is happy to see the Occultist when he gets home from magical ceremonies and long days in the alchemy lab, the demon waving its fuzzy tentacles and all, but fuck, the responsibility can be a real bitch sometimes.  

Portraits of Comedians: Part 2

I finished up my Danny DeVito painting for the Portraits of Comedians group show at Jameson's.

"Danny" 11 X 14 Oil on Panel 2013

And also my lovely girlfriend and fellow artist, Sabrina Jackson, blasted out this awesome Janeane Garofalo! Sabrina rocks!!

"Janeane Garofalo" Ink and Colored Pencil on Watercolor Paper by Sabrina Jackson 2013

Well, that was a fun project and I have heard that there will be actual comedians at the opening, so it should be as blast.

 

Now, I am getting ready to start a new painting tonight, and I am stoked to post some pictures of it soon. My next painting will have a monster in it!!

Portraits of Comedians

Hi Everyone,
I'm currently finishing up a painting for a group show in April at Jameson's with the theme, "Portraits of Comedians".

It's pretty funny, (no pun intended) that I am actually participating in this show because the theme couldn't be further away from what I usually paint. Anyway, I thought it would be a good challenge for me, so I chose Danny DeVito. I decided to paint Danny as a giant. I believe he is only 5 feet tall, and to me that is sort of funny. Hopefully I will get it finished in the next few days! :)

"Danny DeVito" work in progress

Moth House

"Moth House" 16 X 20 Oil on Panel 2013

Just finished a few new paintings! This first one is called Moth House! I have always wanted to live in a magical little cottage, that looks like it's about 300 square feet on the outside, but on the inside it's actually and impossibly the size of any normal house. I recently moved into a new house and decided if I couldn't move into a magical little cottage, that I should just paint one.

"Concussion" 10 X 8 Oil on Panel 2013

This next painting is probably the smallest thing I have ever painted!! Yes, I received a concussion and it totally sucked! I was breaking up a bar fight..... and let's just say that things didn't turn out as planned! Ouch!!

The Pop Surrealism of Mark Rogers | eugeneweekly.com

The Pop Surrealism of Mark Rogers | eugeneweekly.com

Rad Show!!

Hey!! I just wanted to thank everyone for coming over to Jameson's the other night!! And Mega-Thanks to those who bought my paintings. I had a great time!!

Here are a couple of fun things:

I was interviewed by Jordan Brandt, who runs the IL CULTO blog. We talked a little bit about my process and the theme of the "New Ending Show".
http://ilculto.wordpress.com/2013/01/23/mark-rogers-the-new-ending-interview/

Also, I will have an artist profile featured in the Febuary 7th Eugene Weekly! Here is the little blurb about that: http://eugeneweekly.com/blog/pop-surrealist-painter-mark-rogers-opens-show-jamesons-feb-1#.UQxloNQJQ40.facebook

Finally I wanted to give a shout out to fellow Eugene Artist, Beth I Robinson, who made it into Juxtapoz Magazine!!! Wahoo!! Beth is an amazing artist and I encourage everyone to check out her website!

Thanks again to everyone who made it to ""The New Ending"!! It was super fun!!