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Mark Langley

Mark has a truly different approach in the detailed way in which he works. His pencil and colour pencil work stands up to extremely close examination, and unlike most paintings looks even better at close quarters. Casual Observers may notice the highly realistic representational style but get a little closer and you will see that every hair and blade of grass is painstakingly drawn in individual pencil strokes. Mark's background has shaped his approach, he was educated and subsequently worked as a graphic artist. Mark's drawing skills are entirely self taught and were developed before he had any formal tuition although his interest in photography and the influence of his training in graphic design and illustration have refined his eye for image creation and composition.

Mark uses his camera to collect extensive amounts of source material. He believes it is vital to have a trained mind and be quick to see opportunities whilst photographing in order to be able to find images that will make great drawings. Seeing the image and waiting for the moment to capture an animal in a natural pose or finding the right angles to approach an architectural detail are crucial along with visualising it as a finished artwork at the same time.

His quiet view, shared by other well taught visual technicians, is that if you were to take away many contemporary artists styles, they would be poor draftsmen. Suspect proportions, composition and unusual colour are not always pure creative intension but perhaps not much technical experience. Mark is nostalgic for times gone by when drawing and painting followed good draftsmanship initially and were seen as a vital skill for all artists. That is he thinks until they had evolved their more expressive and less representational styles intentionally.

Mark hopes therefore his work is refreshing, it stands well amongst representational styles and in the contemporary art market. His aim is for his work to last for many years as a style and for the memory of the subject. He is adamant that technically well executed work has always and will always stand the test of time.

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