Mark's Bio

 

Biography

I was born in Milwaukee and grew up in Wind Lake, WI.  Art has always been apart of my life.  Dad used to bring home all of his one sided scrap paper giving me a continuous supply of drawing paper.  Grandma Dilley had a gift for painting and kept rolls of butcher paper for the grandkids to draw on.  My family encouraged my natural creative talents for drawing and painting, I started using acrylics at twelve and it remains my primary media.  My primary formal art training was at Muskego High School as a student of Roseland Coutier.   I participated in many art shows and collected a number of awards. 

Following graduation from High School I pursued a career in education and soccer, however, painting has continued to be an important part of my life.  As a science teacher I incorporated my photography and drawings of nature and the solar system in class as a way of building rapport with my students and staff.

I am currently a graduate student at UW-Madison in the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and seeking work in school leadership as school Principal, Special Education Director or in another role.  I also hold my Masters Degree in Science Education from the UW-Whitewater.  My dream has always dreamed of selling his art in his retirement, hopefully this will be an early start.

Bonnie, my fiancée and I have been together over six years now.  We have four boys between us (three of hers and one of mine) Kaci, is our son’s Elliot’s girlfriend and also a great artist. Our family also includes our dogs Thor, Maggie Mae and Molly, Mischief the cat and the various inhabitants of three fish tanks.