Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Shevetone.

Hi Mark, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I’m a Las Vegas-based artist that brings the ordinary to life through vibrant, thought-provoking art. My original paintings strive to blend humor, rich color, and texture, encouraging viewers to find beauty in the unexpected. With a focus on human experiences, I use color as a universal language to evoke emotion and reflection.

I was born in 1965 in Beacon, NY, and was initially influenced by my great-uncle Alfred Pizzarelli, a celebrated New York City artist of the 1950s and ’60s. My early exposure to my uncle’s work sparked a lifelong fascination with color and texture as storytelling devices. This influence shaped my belief that art should not only speak to the viewer but also inspire emotion and introspection.

I’m graduate of San Jose State University’s Advertising/Art program. My unique style fuses modernity with timelessness. My primary medium, acrylic paint is used to create highly textured, dynamic works that seem to come to life. My pieces often combine the familiar with the surreal, drawing viewers into a visual dialogue.

My hope would be to skillfully weave humor and personal observation into my pieces, making them relatable and engaging with an unexpected view.

If a viewer stops for a moment to reflect on my work—feeling something, whether it’s emotion, curiosity, or a memory—then I’ve succeeded. Hopefully my art tries to engage adults and children on a deeper level, inviting them to connect with both the physical and emotional layers of the work.

You can catch my artwork around Las Vegas in casinos, restaurants, wineries and local/regional galleries. When I’m not working, I’m spending time with my wife Alicia and my English bulldog Belma hoping to catch the next expression to put on canvas.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I think becoming a full time artist has its unique challenges. You don’t hear the term “Starving artist” for nothing. All through my art career I’ve had a full time job to pretty much fund the art. Only recently have I been able to fully focus my efforts on 100% on creating art. But my desire to create art has never wavered. I think that overcoming challenges are what makes you stronger in your decision making process. That naturally bleeds into your artwork and solidifies your determination to create personalized artwork.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

For my most recent series of paintings, I feature our English bulldog, Belma. Not only has she become an integral part of our family, her personality fits in more human situations than a dogs. With these latest paintings I use my ability to capture her moments in many everyday situations through bold, luminous color choices and textured compositions. My work tries to strike a balance between humor and serenity, inviting viewers to interpret it in their own way.

I’m most proud of bringing unexpected thoughts and views into my artwork. Everyone gets to see the world through my lens. I think that’s what sets every artist apart, the personal view of the world expressed on canvas.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?

Well for me it was actually a time in my life I got to stop and “smell the roses” for an extended time. I traveled quite extensively for work so when Covid hit, I had to stay in one place for a while with no time frame of when that would change. I really found that my happiest place is next to my wife and bulldog on the couch. If you start from that baseline, the rest of the worlds (and my) problems get much easier to deal with.

Also, that was the period where I was able to focus on painting and was able to make the transition from hobby artist to a full time one. While others felt removed and secluded, I felt a rush of creativity with no outside influences to stop it.

And maybe the most important thing of all is that nothing is guaranteed. Tomorrow is a new day and should be enjoyed as you never know what’s around the corner.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shevetoneartgallery.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shev_del_shevy/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mshevetone
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-shevetone-9734876/