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Touching the Realm of Nature
Laura Mark-Finberg’s paintings have been described
as “windows unto the soul” of the animals she paints., During
a career that has spanned more than twenty years Laura has explored a
vast array of subjects in her quest to help the viewer understand a little
more about the animals she paints. Laura is meticulous in her research
and attention to detail and demonstrates a flawless search for truth in
each painting...
Working primarily in acrylic, Laura’s technique is to build up layers
of paint to create the detail, depth and reality of her paintings. According
to Laura,”Unlike oil paints, acrylics are difficult to blend as
they dry so fast; consequently, I use a lot of transparent washes or glazes
and build up layers of paint.” Eyes are her favorite part. “Sometimes
I’ll do the eyes first. If I’ve created life in the eyes the
rest of the painting seems to paint itself. At other times I’ll
wait to the end, almost as if there’s a reward for completing a
piece.” “My favorite subject are the predators. Unlike some
animals there is such awareness in the eyes.”
Laura has traveled extensively. Her research has taken her to such divergent
places as the Himalayas in both Afghanistan and Kashmir and to the undersea
world off the coast of Venezuela. Laura believes, “it’s the
research that keeps my paintings fresh and alive. As an artist who paints
wildlife I personally need to be able to reach out and touch my subject
matter. I believe it gives a reality to my work that is not obtained by
being sequestered in a studio.”
In a painting of a peregrine falcon it wasn’t enough to accurately
depict the bird. My husband Barry and I climbed a sheer cliff face to
photograph the rocks at the top of the mountain. “We sometimes place
ourselves in precarious situations in an effort to capture reality in
a painting.” A few years ago we took up scuba diving because of
my desire to paint a part of nature that so few have the opportunity to
view first hand.
Laura has won a number of “Best Of Show Awards” at Art Shows
across the country, ,including the 1999 Best of Show Award at the NatureWorks
Show. She was the “Featured Artist” at the National Wildlife
Art Show in Kansas City in 1998 and was the Featured Artist at the Nature
Works Show in Tulsa in Febuary of 2008. Her work has appeared on the cover
of a number of national and regional magazines including “Wildlife
Art News Magazine”.
In her home state, she has won the Pennsylvania State Conservation Print
Competition on three occasions. Laura has worked with conservation groups
throughout her career. In 1990 she produced Waterfowl USA’s NY 1st
of State Conservation Print, and was the Member Artist of the Year for
the National organization in 1991. She was one of sixteen artist from
across North America selected through “The International Treaty
Support Fund” to work on a limited edition leather bound book on
endangered species.
Laura painted the “Companion Print of the Year” in 1995 for
National Whitetails Unlimited. In 2002 working closely with The Pennsylvania
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundations’ Laura produced the 1st of State
Conservation Print for Pennsylvania.
AS a tribute to her father’s influence , Laura continues to sign
her original paintings using her maiden name, “MARK”.
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