About Mark N. Brown - Hawaii Plein Air Artist
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MARK N. BROWN- PLEIN AIR HAWAII ARTIST
Mark is one of the few Plein Air Artists in Hawaii. Plein Air artists paint their paintings entirely outside at the site of the painting subject. He has been a plein air art teacher for decade and his work can be seen all throughout the Hawaiian islands.
HAWAII ARTIST FACTS
- Mark N. Brown is one of Hawaii's premier Landscape Artist.
- He has been a Plein Air Art Teacher for decades.
- His art is featured in Hawaii Art Galleries all over the islands.
- He offers commissioned art.
- He is a well known Hawaiian artist.
- He does outdoor oil paintings of Hawaiian Scenery.
- He is one of Hawaii's Artists.
- He has over 100 Scenic Hawaiian Paintings
ABOUT MARK N. BROWN
Artist Mark N. Brown, born and raised on Oahu has been active in the arts for the last 40 years.
He wasteaching weekly Plein air painting classes with the University of Hawaii at Manoa Outreach College since 1999 to 2016, and currently now runs the same classes on his own with registration on his web site, www.marknbrownfineart.com.
And since 1988, running a uninstructed life drawing class with Chamanade University to 2011 and continues with a similar one with the Honolulu Museum school of Art every Monday Evenings.
After starting his own graphic design business in 1984, he used that business knowledge to paint full time in 1998.
And between painting for galleries, commissions ,Staged home painting rentals, and murals, it keeps his Palette always loaded.
In 2017 ,Mark and his team of 4 fellow artist was hired by Howard Hughes Corp. to paint a mural on the South Shore Marketplace Wall 60'x 300' Mark has represented Oahu for the last 14 years in the Maui Plein Air Painting invitational competition with 24 nationally known other Plein Air Artist,and he has won 6 awards judged by Jean Stern of the Irvine Museum, including Best in Show on February 22, 2019.
His Easel has traveled with him to Germany, Italy, France, Tahiti, New Mexico, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, Seattle and California
A Native of Hawaii, Mark comes from a family loaded with artistic talent. He attended local public schools and art quickly emerged as his favorite subject. Inspired by the drawings from his favorite comic books, Mark's natural artistic abilities rapidly developed.
Mark voraciously studied art books and while still attending Castle High school, he began taking uninstructed Life Drawing classes which led him toward entering his work into shows and contests, receiving commissions for work and eventually starting his own graphic design company in 1984 specializing in calligraphy, lettering and silk screening. Mark has since been monitoring a similar Life Drawing class weekly at Chaminade University.
In 1993, Mark joined en Plein Air (outdoor) painting class offered by the University of Hawaii outreach college. It was through this immersion in Plein Air oil painting that Mark was able to unearth his unique style of impressionist landscape paintings that he is now so well known for.
His Plein Air class instructor Florence Ko retired in 2000 and passed the teaching reins on to Mark. He continues as a teacher of the Plein Air painting class on Saturdays. Mark's daily outdoor painting pursuits produce the majority of his work for galleries, commissions and shows.
Mark's success and enthusiasm for Plein Air painting and his genuine joy for offering instruction to others has brought him respect and recognition in the art community as well as many invitations to hold workshops throughout Hawaii and the world.
Mark has earned numerous awards and has been the recipient of many honors.
His paintings of Hawaii's Landscape and Scenery can be seen all throughout the Hawaiian Islands in private collections, as well as numerous Art Galleries, Fine Retail Shops and Government facilities.
His home is in beautiful Kalihi valley where he lives with his devoted cat Petruse. And his studio is in the various Hawaiian landscapes, where ever he can find room for his easal.
ARTIST STATEMENT
"I enjoy painting outdoors on location because it limits the amount of time that you have to capture the light in your painting, it makes you call attention to the most important elements and puts the non essential objects to be out of focus , as Kimon Nicolaides the author of the book "The Natural Way to Draw " would instruct in the gesture chapter of his book "don't draw what it looks like" "draw what it is doing" , and I honor that with the spirit of responding to the gesture of the landscape , light, movement, texture, brushwork when a person listens to a live music concert, he responds with clapping, head, body moving, foot tapping, and when I watch the breaking surf at Makapu'u, I respond the same way with my interpatation of colors, brush work on canvas, moment, and editing of information.
To be in the moment before the landscape that I am painting and not be in the analitical mode, you have to be veresed in the fudamentals, so I draw daily from life and do weekly life drawing studio sessions.
Our vision is always ahead of your ability to paint, but when your in the moment, for that brief time you feel as time is standing still."
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- MARK N. BROWN ACCOMPLISHMENTS
April 2025 - Event - Mark N. Brown Class Students Participates in Downtown Art Center Heart Of Honolulu Art Festival 2025
A Family-Friendly Block Party In Chinatown, On Saturday, April 12, 2025- 2025 - Event - Pūʻōhala School Career Day - April 2, 2025 -Wednesday photos
March 2025 - Award - Best in Show Winner - Downtown Arts Centers Plein Air Event competition titled Quickdraw
Painted in the Downtown Arts Centers Plein Air Event competition titled Quickdraw held in Chinatown. 33 Artist were given 4 hours to paint a scene of their choice in the boundaries of Beretania st , Fort st , River st and Bishop St, and judge David Luchak awarded my framed 30"x 40" original oil on canvas" Best In Show " and awarded $500 and featured in the Downtown Arts Center exhibit as part of Friday's gallery walk night.
2025 - Event - Invited to Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational
One of 24 artist, as I represented Oahu - I am only one of 3 artist who have been invited and accepted the invitation to be part of the event for all 16 years
2025 - Poster - Sold 5 paintings to christen the new opening of Village gallery that previously was destroyed by Lahaina fire
9 of my paintings were featured in the color filled pages of the book " Remembering Lahaina - and out of 87 artist to have 9 paintings in the book with 251 paintings is a great percentage
2025 - Event - Featured artist at Punahou Carnival 2025
Mark is proud to have multiple Hawaii art images feature at the Punahou School Carnival 2025.- 2025 - Media - Featured in Star Advertiser 1/1/2025
2025 - Event - Live painting of the Annual Lanikai Woe's day parade and donation of two paintings
2024 - Poster - Winner of Lahaina Maui 2025 poster contest.
To add to the mystic of the 2025 Lahaina Poster win, the winning painting was the Best in Show winner at the 2019 Maui Plein Air invitational. my winning poster along with 2nd place and 3rd place. The judge was artist and Maui Plein Air founder Ronaldo Macedo. In a blind judging the contest was open nationwide and several entries came from artist that are recognized nationally like Suzie Baker and Lori Putnam. lahainarestorationevents.org
2024 - Travel - Teaching trip to cambodia
Special event featuring Hawaii plein air artist Mark N. Brown
2024 - Event - Live painting of the 100th anniversary of the Hawaii Youth Symphony & Donation
Donation of 24"x 48" to the executive director Randy Wong
2024 - Donation - Donation of painting to the Friends of Kewalo's annual clean up of Kewalo Basin Park. Honored for over 10 years of donating.
2024 - Event - Haleiwa Art Festival in June Participation
A very special annual event
2024 - Event - November Lanikai Art fair
A great annual community event.- 2024 - Event - Foster Botanical Gardens annual Mid Summers Nights Gleam
- 2024 - ongoing - Exhibit - Exhibit at Assaggio Italian Restaurant Kailua
- 2024 - Mural - Mural done on the front of the marquee for Foodland Farms on the corner of Ala Moana Blvd and Ena Rd
- 2023 - Mural - Hired by Howard Hughes to paint mural on side of Ward Entertainment center 300 ft by 60 ft to transfer a Sid Zane design to building
- 2022 - Event - Hired to paint live the 100th Anniversary of the Outrigger Canoe Club and auction of 30"x 40" painting( photos)
- 2019 - Event - Showing of paintings at Sak's 5th Avenue Waikiki, 3rd floor, Art on the Avenue.Feb. 7th to April 1st , 2019
- 2019 - Award - "Best of Show" Winner at Maui Plein Air Painting Invitational Competition, 2/22/2019
- 2018 - Media - Paintings purchased by CBS Studios for TV Show Magnum P.I. for Permanent set dressing and featured 20 paintings on Episode #4
- 2016 - Classes / Teaching - Camp Mokuliea Plein Air painting workshop , David Turner , Executive Director.
- 2016 - Mural - Mural On South Shore Marketplace Wall 60'x 300' Commissioned by Howard Hughes Corp.
- 2016 - 2023 - Classes / Teaching - Hired by Kahala Nui to teach painting to Seniors once a week.
- 2015 - Mural - 35' x 350' mural completed for Kamehameha schools on the Nishimoto trading company building, Goto construction, contractor
- 2014 - Media - 2 Film Video of Mark demonstrating Plein Air at Makapu'u and Queen's Beach for DOE, produced by Anna Marie Kirt " Here's Something to Do"
- 2014 - Event - Art show in Bon Germany to show alongside deceased student Brigite Tidge, sponsored by surviving husband Boy Ludge.
- 2014 - Mural - Parking Garage Mural for Hosoi Mortuary
- 2013 - 2014 - Classes / Teaching - Hired by Rehab hospital of the Pacific to be in charge of art program
- 2012 - Award - Honor Hawaii, Honor Maui Award
- 2012 - Poster - Painting selected for Haleiwa art festival poster of Haleiwa Harbor
- 2011 - Award - Pacific 'O Restaurant award
- 2011 - Mural - Commissioned by City & County on Cultural in the Arts for Public mural for 15' x 15' Waipio Gentry Aquatic park
- 2011 - Classes / Teaching - Heads up a uninstructed life drawing group at the Honolulu Museum school of art. To replace Chamanade group that had to relocate due to renovation.
- 2011 - 2022 - Media - Paintings rented for as backdrops for CBS TV show Hawaii 5-0 staging ( Prop Director : Jullian Gettman)
- 2010 - Award - Honorable Mention, Maui Plein Air Invitational
- 2009 - current, - Classes / Teaching - Yearly plein air trips to New Mexico, Mass. CA. Maine, etc for learning
- 2009 - Classes / Teaching - Teaching plein air workshop at Hui Noeau , Makawao ,Maui
- 2008 - Classes / Teaching - Takes workshop with national portrait painter Daniel Green
- 2008 - Classes / Teaching - Starts a weekly uninstructed portrait group with costumed models at Chamanade University.
- 2007 - Event - one person shows at Gallery Bibelot, Kapiolani Community College fine dining room, Roy's Restaurant Hawaii Kai.
- 2006 - Award - Starbucks Choice award, Quick draw competition
- 2006 - Award - 1st place Quick Draw juried competition, Maui Plein Air Invitational
- 2006 - Artwork Purchase - Paintings selected by Outrigger hotels, Marimar, and Black Rock Sheraton for reproduction for their properties.
- 2005 - Mural - 10'x15' Mural Commission for City and County of Honolulu, Arts in the Parks, Waipio Aquatic Park
- 2005 to 2019 - Award - Invited to the Maui Plein air painting competition invitational and wins the Quick Draw competition in 2005 representing Oahu ( painting completed in 2 hours). Wins 5 other awards judged by Jean Stern of the Irvine Museum
- 2004 - Event - Signature Artist for Islanders Plein Air Painters Organization
- 2004 - Event - Selected as Signature Artist for P.A.P.O.H.
- 2004 - 2008 - Artwork Purchase - 55 paintings are purchased by HTH Corp/ Pacific Beach Hotel for their collections. CEO Corrine Hayashi
- 2004 - Classes / Teaching - Attends plein air painting workshop in Kauai taught by Kevin Macphearson
- 2004-2006 - Event - Becomes partners in gallery Atelier 4 on Queen Street as the Downtown Gallery Walk hits it's stride, gallery later becomes Bethel st. gallery
- 2004 - Event - Invited to San Louis Obispo for Plein air painting competition
- 2004 - Travel - Attends plein air painting workshop with the late Ken Auster
- 2003 - Exhibit - "Atelier 4" Queen Street Gallery Opening
- 2003 - Mural - Mural Commission for Tory Richards Duty Free Shop
- 2003 - Artwork Purchase - 12 original paintings purchased by Bob Armstrong of Armstrong builders , to dress the model homes of Ka Lani At Ko'olina, starts the home staging business /rental
- 2003 - Media - 4' x 32' mural of " History of Surfing commissioned by The Honu Group for the restaurant " All Star Cafe" with advisory assistance from Triple Crown director Randy Rarick
- 2003 - Artwork Purchase - Paintings selected by Woody Kirtley of Kirtley designs For reproduction in the rooms and suites of Hilton Hawaiian village, Tapa tower, Diamond head tower, and Rainbow tower
- 2002, 2003, 2005 - Poster - Aloha Airlines Executive Calendar
- 2002 - Event - City and County of Honolulu, "Mayor's Culture On the Arts" Paintings for Mayor's office
- 2002 - Poster - Haleiwa Art Festival Featured Artist, poster, t-shirt
- 2002 - Travel - Travels to France and Italy for independent art study
- 2002 - Poster - Original painting " a lazy day in Haleiwa" chosen for the Haleiwa arts festival poster and T-shirt
- 2000 To present - - Event - Featured Artist for Punahou Carnival Art Benefit
- 2000 through 2006 - Exhibit - Honolulu Academy of Arts Invited Artist for "Showcase Exhibit"
- 2000 - Artwork Purchase - City & County of Honolulu culture and the Arts Purchase of 3 paintings for Mayor's office./ Jeremy Harris
- 2000 - Poster - American Savings Bank selects 13 paintings for year 75th anniversary calendar .
- 2000t o 2016 - Classes / Teaching - Becomes instructor for University of Hawaii. Outreach College, painting on Location class
- 1999 - Mural - 20'x 80' Mural Commission for TV series "One West Waikiki"
- 1999 to current - Event - Participates in annual Haleiwa Art Festival
- 1999 - Poster - Painting chosen for cover of music CD for KINE Radio station
- 1998 - Event - Portrait commissions for Nationwide telecast of Hula Bowl Halftime Show
- 1998 - Mural - Mural Commission for Victoria Ward, Ward Centers Amphitheater
- 1998 - Event - Show at Leeward Community College of original plein air and figurative oil paintings, show was purchased by Robyn Buntin galleries to start Oceanic gallery on Beretania st.
- 1998 to current - Event - One of many featured artist for Punahou Schools annual Art carnival exhibit
- 1998 - 2008 - Exhibit - Exhibits paintings seasonally with the Pacific Handcrafters Guild
- 1998 - Mural - Hired as subcontractor by Brandy Signs to dress the Duty Free Shop with a graphic curtain 60' high , by 250' x 250' square ,
- 1997 - Poster - 6'x 4' oil painting "Humble Beginings" selected for cover of Music CD : HomeGrown , Ron Jacobs , producer
- 1996 - Mural - Mural created for Waikiki Duty Free Shop
- 1995 - Classes / Teaching - Attends uninstructed life drawing group on Sundays at University of Hawaii while a sophomore at Castle High school
- 1995 - Classes / Teaching - takes plein air workshop with East Coast instructor Tm Nicholas
- 1993 - 1999 - Classes / Teaching - Attends painting on location class with the U. of H. outreach college, Florence Ko instructor
- 1988 - 2011 - Classes / Teaching - Heads up a uninstructed life drawing group once a week at Chamanade university,
- 1988 - Event - 5- 15' x 15' portraits completed for National Hula Bowl Half-time performance of the late Elison Onizuka, John A. Burns, Alfred Apaka, Duke Kahanamoku, King Kamehmeha.
- 1988 - Award - Awarded temporary signage contract by Media 5 For the renovation work for Ala Moana Hotel.
- 1988 - Event - Travel to Italy for self study of art, 30 days
- 1984 - 1998 - Event - Starts Signs & Graphics by Mark, a DBA that specializes in Hand lettering, silk screening, and graphic design. Clients include CS Wo, HomeWorld, Meadow Gold Daries, Triple Crown of Surfing and many more...
- 1979 - 1983 - Award - Accepted drawing /painting entries for Printmakers association, Hawaii watercolor show, Easter art show, AHA show.
- 1977 - Award - Masthead design winner / Castle High school
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