We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Mark Granlund. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Mark below.

Mark, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I am a third child, so my parents were kinda done doing any intense parenting by the time I came along. They kinda left me alone and let me sit in my own generated world of drawing and making up stories.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a painter and a writer. I have always made art for as long as I can remember, and was recognized as a good drawer from a very early age. It has been natural to continue making art throughout my life. At this point, making art is part of how I process my experiences in this world. I paint landscapes about my experiences in nature, still lifes that reflect on society and my diet, and I am moving into more figurative work. I am predominantly an oil painter.

As an oil painter, I am using art materials that are as sustainable as possible. I have switched from cotton canvas to linen, petroleum-based thinner to a plant-based thinner, and am using sustainably forested lumber to create my stretchers and frames. My hope is that my activity to inspire people about the nature I experience is not harming that nature.

I work in series of paintings, exploring a question or experience for a number of paintings. I have documented my diet as evidenced by the food scraps leftover from meal making. My landscapes of the last five years have been about an inner sense of rhythm that correlates with the natural environment I am experiencing. My latest series I am developing is about floods and the overwhelming nature of our current environmental situation.

I write about my art experiences, the broader societal impact of art, and the occasional short story.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?

I can’t imagine the life of a non-creative. But I think what they would struggle to understand most about a life like mine is that it is presented as a life that is full of meaning, purpose and enlightenment, when in actuality it isn’t different than any other life. It is just that creatives are asked to explain themselves. Non-creatives are never asked, “what is the purpose behind your non-creativeness?” Or, “what are your influences for not being creative?” My favorite is, “Were you non-creative as a child?” The kink I see with this is that it is most often creatives who are asking other creatives these types of questions for the supposed entertainment of non-creatives. If you are a non-creative, I hope you find this entertaining.

Being an artist is like being a small business owner: either you are following a passion or you figured it is a way you can make some money. I am following my passions. If you like my art or what I am writing, buy it. Ultimately, all good business is about relationship. If you like my art, bring it into your life and start a relationship with it. Follow me and lets start a conversation.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I was learning painting and art in graduate school, no one talked about the market. The art market, and artists, have become so much more sophisticated over the years. I wish I had a mentor who gave me advice about the market, but the generation before me knew even less. They were still interested in manifestos and establishing a school of art; things artist groups did from the 1860’s to the 1960’s. The market is changing faster than it ever has and there is no one who is more than a year or two ahead of anyone else.

So, some sense of approaching the market would have been helpful earlier in my career. That said, I find that writing about my art and my experiences reverberates with people and allows them to see into my creative processes. Sharing who I am and what I do is not simple, as I am an introvert who finds his solace in isolation. But I am always learning and getting better at these things.

As stated, artists are becoming more sophisticated, and I think that can mean that artists have to wear many more hats than previously expected. Yet, at the same time, there are more resources available to artists than ever before. Rebel Canvas is a great example.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.markgranlund.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markgranlundstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkGranlundStudio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markgranlund/
• Other: https://substack.com/@markgranlund