Mark Todd at Murphy Booth No. B10

Monkeys : Surprise Villain : 7" x 9" : mixed media

Mark Todd is a prolific image-maker and actively publishes do-it-yourself “zines.” Mark, originally from Las Vegas and now living in Pasadena, focuses his fine art on the deconstruction of superhero comic book characters. Once broken down, he melds them into dynamic sequences comprised of figurative forms, graphic textures and details. Often, the result is a compositional style that echoes his childhood past—complete with magic markers, crayons, “The Silver Age of Comic Books” by Jack Kirby and file boxes filled with Mark’s personal comic book creations.

Night Prowler : Demon (Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel)

Mark will be featured in the second installment of the documentary series Scribble.08, released later this year. In early creative development, Mark revealed his love of creating and then organizing hundreds of characters who possess unstoppable, super-human character traits. Jack Kirby was a consistent source for inspiration, and many artists and national ranking systems place him as the number one comic artist of all time.

Man Monster

Atlas Comics reports, “With all due respect to the gentleman listed below, the gap between Jack Kirby and the rest of the field might just as well be an ocean. Jack’s accomplishments are legion. Not only a great artist and cartoonist, but a breathtaking visual stylist who created a large portion of the storytelling language every comic artist uses today. He is the unquestioned king of invention; not just characters, but devices, stories, races, worlds, genres, and even companies flowed from his fingers. For over 50 years his exuberance, his vitality, and his sheer will carried an industry on his shoulders…”

Galore : 18" x 18" : Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel

For Mark, one of his favorite superhero teams is “The Fantastic Four” comprised of Mister Fantastic (Reed Richards), Invisible Girl/Woman (Susan Storm), The Human Torch (Johnny Storm, younger brother of Susan) and The Thing (Ben Grimm).

Back in 2007, I worked on The Hanna-Barbera Treasury with Jerry Beck.

—funny truth about this project soon to be revealed in a future post—

While completing research I discovered studies for the 20-episode animation series

created by Hanna-Barbera in 1967-1970.

Survey Select features Mark Todd’s painting “Portal” (Sold)

Mark Todd’s paintings celebrate the Narrative Art tradition by paying homage to his comic-making innocence as a boy mixed with his adult sensibilities as a visual storyteller. Mark Todd and I have collaborated on a mini zine of his work, interviews, Miami Art Basel and “Survey Select.” Mark’s painting “Portal” sold immediately upon the exhibit’s opening back on July 15, 2010.

Invaders : 24" x 36" : Cel Vinyl, Acrylic on Wood Panel : (in progress photo)

Mark Todd features a new 24” x 36” painting on wood panel, “Invaders,” alongside two mixed media studies and five additional paintings at this year’s Contemporary Art Fair. Stop on over at Booth B10 and take a close look at Mark Todd’s pop-influenced body of work and check out some of his mini “zines” too. Murphy Fine Arts will be located at booth B10 at the Hilton Bayfront September 2-5 and “Survey Select” will be featured as a major destination located at 1400 Imperial Avenue, SD, CA, 92101. Interested in more about Mark Todd, please click Juggernaut Interview and Juggernaut Art History. For acquisition information please contact me.

Cathie Bleck at Murphy Booth No. B10

Heaven (s) : Limboland : Hell : Kaolin Clay, ink on scratchboard panel

“Survey Select” concludes an eight-week run with one final installation of new art work created by Cathie Bleck and Mark Todd, September 2 – 5 at the SD Contemporary Art Fair, Booth No. B10, curated by Mark Murphy. Murphy Fine Arts celebrates artists who practice in the Narrative Art tradition, originating visual mythology, dense in subject matter and multi-layered techniques. This first installment features the original artistry of Cathie Bleck.

Cathie travels extensively and actively sketches and photographs

Cathie Bleck, originally from the Chicago area and now residing in Cleveland, has been featured in the New Britain Museum of Art and the Butler Museum. Cathie constructs her narrative from life’s rich experiences: growing up with eight brothers and sisters on a tree farm; professional experiences in Chicago, Dallas and New York; and world travels. Cathie created three new Kaolin clay scratchboard compositions entitled, “Heaven,” “Limboland” and “Hell.” Each can be described briefly, as follows:

Heaven, Limboland and Hell details

“Heaven” is a state of mind, an eternal garden of love and kindness. It is a place where one is completely free and at peace with everything. The mind, body and spirit are fulfilled through knowing you had offered the world your best, fought the right battles (armor), loved and lost (however, regained everything back that you cared about).

Open Spaces by Cathie Bleck, published by Murphy : sample pages

“Limboland” is a land without direction. An even longer journey than life, limbo perpetuates itself. Needless to say, this journey is free of the need for the use of a compass.

“Hell” is a place where you find yourself in the bondage of other worldly control. There is no freedom only the greedy consumption for more evil.

When Cathie Bleck was asked to identify some of the characters in her work, she described ”Heaven” as:

Heaven: State of Mind : Study : Graphite on Vellum

“At the gate of Heaven stands the protector of our soul, greeting her beloved brothers and sisters. ‘Heaven’ was originally inspired by the Selket Goddess, one of the four protectors of the shrine that contained the Canopic jars of King Tut in Egypt. Selket was the healer of venomous bites and the patron of magician-medics. She stands with spine exposed representing her ethics and her full moon headdress a powerful symbol of tranquility.” (Selket was typically assigned the sun’s scorching heat and the moon offered the contrary).

Limboland Study : Graphite on Vellum

Cathie’s panel, “Limboland” features the Wanderer, an aimless escapee from the jungles of life who was not willing to commit the time or energy to achieve personal goals. The Wanderer is caught up in the fog of life and constantly searching for the right direction.

Hell Study : Graphite on Vellum

In “Hell” many opposing themes exist in contrast to “Heaven.” A capturer of lost souls awaits, well protected with an alligator ready for a sneak away attempt. The keeper of Hell flows within his sinister chamber, corrupt and dishonored.

Open Spaces and Butler Museum catalog available in Booth B10

Cathie Bleck’s work is textural, the Kaolin clay is built up atop the wood panel and the movement of her knife reveals carved form and layers of color hidden beneath the surface. Cathie is featured at the Murphy Fine Art booth No. B10 at the San Diego Contemporary Art Fair, Hilton Bayfront September 2-5 where you will find her original paintings, drawings and books. For acquisition information please contact me.

Murphy Booth No. B10 at SD Contemp Art Fair

September second through the fifth visit Murphy Fine Arts, Booth B10, at the Hilton Bayfront—Art San Diego Contemporary Art Fair. The Murphy Fine Art Booth will feature fine artists Cathie Bleck (Cleveland/OH) and Mark Todd (Pasadena/CA) and their original art work created specifically for this fair.

Survey Select details:

Shawn Barber, Irene Hardwicke Olivieri, James Marshall, Anthony Pontius

Booth No. B10 will also be your guide to take a last look at “Survey Select” featuring 55 contemporaries from 11 countries displaying over 100 art works (See Artists A—G, H—N, O—Z) in a transformed warehouse space located at 1400 Imperial Avenue in the heart of downtown San Diego, adjacent to Petco Park. And “Survey Select” is a featured part of this year’s fair as a preferred San Diego City-Wide Event and spotlighted as a offsite Art Lab.

Cathie Bleck features 3 new panels : Heaven : Limbo : Hell (10" x 10 x 2) : in progress :

Cathie Bleck creates magical worlds with flowing textures and mystical characters that represent memories of her personal travels, life’s circumstances and her childhood years growing up on a tree nursery just outside of Chicago. Black line protects the essence of her compositions, layered in Kaolin Clay, colored inks and paint. The scratch of her knife on the surface of her creations exposes you to a world that lies beneath, a dimensional look into more than 30 years of artistic impression. Cathie has exhibited for the Butler Museum, New Britain Museum of Art and permanent installations at the US Postal Service, US State Department and University Hospitals. Cathie has also been showcased in Miami, during Miami Art Basel Week.

Mark Todd features new paintings on wood panel

Invaders (24"x36/inprogress) : Demon : Man Monster

Mark Todd continues his comic assemblages, mirroring the Pop-Art revolution of Roy Lichtenstein and the Proto-Pop artistry of Charles Demuth, Stuart Davis and Gerald Murphy. Mark pays homage to his boyhood hero, Jack Kirby in his work that actively celebrates a montage salute to the Hulk, Captain America, the Fantastic Four, Spiderman and more. . . Mark is active in publishing “zines” and books that capture his love of storytelling and life’s awkward experiences—cleverly packaged and shared for a new generation of graphic hungry kids. Mark has shown with the Billy Shire Gallery and has been featured in Miami, during Miami Art Basel Week. Mark Todd will be featured in the upcoming art documentary and follow up to the successful, Scribble.08 film series.

100 original works and limited editions bookstore

Celebrate a historic gathering of fine artists, original artwork and fine art publishing at the Murphy Fine Arts Booth B10 during the San Diego Contemporary Art Fair at the Hilton Bayfront. Visit “Survey Select” a diverse collection of high quality masterpieces by artists dedicated to their craft from around the world located at 1400 Imperial Avenue, San Diego, CA, 92101. For complete schedule on Facebook, please click here. Mark Todd paintings. Cathie Bleck Paintings.