"I had a wonderful visual experience when I walked into the studio of artist Mark Fleming. I have seen Mark's paintings now and then in juried shows and exhibitions throughout the state, but to see a room full of his works all at once was magnificent.
An artist is often judged on two things: style and content. With Fleming they are both strong suits. Fleming is a "realist" who was educated in an abstract painting tradition, and it still shows in his work. One can see through the landscapes, interiors, and figures to the foundation of a solidly good abstract painting. There is a close attention to color fields and harmonies, light and edges, and transparent washes of color over color. The representational subject matter is subtly simplified, for he is not a photo-realist; yet there is an eerie combination of painterly brushwork and stark reality.
Mark's style as an artist is the beautiful vehicle that brings us his vision of the world. I've often thought of paintings as the opportunity to look at the world through the eyes of the artist. What Mark choses to show us is the beauty of a moment in everyday life: you gaze down a street as the last bit of sunlight caresses the end of an alleyway and shadows begin to envelope the day... you look out the window as the light plays on the interior of your room... one of your cats sits by an empty canvas... these are brief, beautiful moments preserved forever like memories. Why were these moments chosen? Somehow they seem to be special distillations of Mark Fleming's environment, the kind that "burn into your memory" for no evident reason, but are somehow poignant or archetypical.
When I asked Mark about his method of painting, Mark quoted the famous Father of Impressionism, Pissaro, "Never lose sight of your initial sensation." Mark Fleming does not lose sight of it, and his paintings are sensational."
Bill Hopen ~ Sculptor
127 Garvins Lane
Wheeling, WV 26003
304-243-9202
