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Staycation
oil paintings by Marc Anderson
April 20 - July 16, 2023
Opening Reception:
Friday, April 21st, 5 PM to 8 PM
Artist Talk at 6 PM
From the countryside of his childhood home in Wild Rose, to the shores of Lake Superior at Madeline Island and the rocky rivers of Copper Falls State Park, award winning artist Marc Anderson has brought the stunning landscape of Wisconsin to life. While he travels the country to paint en plein air, or in the outdoors, Marc has gained a great appreciation for the unique and breathtaking scenery our state has to offer. Featured in this exhibition are twelve oil and board paintings that fuse masterful documentation of lighting effects and atmosphere with a transient sense of place and remembrance. The viewer is called to draw upon their own memories of bucolic farmland and captivating waters or realize the rich and diverse environment our state offers.
The Wisconsin landscape has always been a source of inspiration for Marc. From long and humid summer days to short snowy afternoons spent exploring the countryside of his childhood home in Wild Rose with his three brothers, Marc developed a deep regard for the natural world. His fondness for the outdoors would inform his artistic path and education.
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Marc had an innate aptitude for drawing and painting that was first recognized by his high school art teacher. She gave him close guidance and encouraged him to pursue a career in the arts. Leaning into his natural ability, Marc left his hometown and attended the University of Wisconsin - Stout. There, he pursued a career in illustration, working freelance at a handful of regional and national publications. During the summers, Marc drew caricatures at an amusement park outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Interestingly, this is where Marc feels he really learned to be a “professional” artist. He spent eight to twelve hours a day consistently drawing from a live model. Additionally, the comradery between fellow artists earned Marc advice in commercial art and how to run his own business as an artist.
Marc Anderson, Holdfast, Oil, 2021.
Marc Anderson, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Canvas Boat Bimini, Oil, 2021.
Marc Anderson, Cave Point, Oil, 2021.
To this day, Marc continues to be a student, having taken a number of painting workshops over the years. The most informative experience was his first plein air workshop with Vermont artist Mark Boedges - there, he fell in love with plein air painting. From that point on, Marc veered away from illustration, replacing his pen and ink with brush and oil paints, to foster his abilities in fine art.
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The body of work exhibited in Staycation exemplifies a celebration of natural landscape through careful observation and spontaneity to capture the natural and sometimes dramatic effects of changing weather and daylight. Beyond the farmland Marc has always been drawn to, he has recently been spending more time painting around bodies of water. For Marc, it is in the deep and mystic waters of the Great Lakes and quaint calmness of Wisconsin rivers and lakes that speak to the romantic in him.
Marc’s artwork has been recognized nationally, earning awards from Oil Painters of America exhibitions, national juried plein air events, and fine art shows. In 2021, he received the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship and Artists’ Choice Award at the OPA National Exhibition, the Gold Medal Award at the OPA Eastern Regional Exhibition, and was included in the “Top 10 Artists to Collect Now” special feature in Plein Air Magazine.
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Painting in Plein Air with Marc Anderson
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Saturday, May 13, 9 AM - 12 PM
Cedar Creek Park
N55 W6079 Portland Rd, Cedarburg, WI
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Learn how to paint one of Cedarburg’s most picturesque locations, Cedar Creek Park, with award winning plein air painter, Marc Anderson! During the demonstration, Marc will discuss the fundamentals of painting en plein air (on location) as well as more advanced topics like drawing, composition, and color theory. This demonstration will be held outdoors at Cedar Creek Park in Cedarburg, WI.
Registration free for members and $5 for non-members. Registration will close May 6th.