Ill-Gotten Gains (The Elves & The Shoemaker) - Original
- I have constructed a scene that has a mix of innocence, magic, greed, anger and darkness. The composition and choice of objects convey the growth of the shoemakers’ business and ultimate failings with the results of this being there for all to see. The title choice of ‘Ill-gotten Gains’ represents how the shoemaker was given the helping hand to kick-start his business and enjoy the security that his wife and he craved yet through greed and naivety made bad decision after bad decision whilst ignoring the advice from those that helped him, making more enemies than money.
The piece itself showcases depth of field through setting key detail in stages moving front to back and then the landscape that you can see through the factory windows. I wanted to include a significant amount of detail within the piece and ensure that they are harmonised with tone and ambience. The factory is oversized and showing its’ age and neglect, beautiful but damaged windows bring in light and hope but fight against dusty spaces and intense shadows.
The workbench takes centre stage, it is where it all started and displays the tools of the trade, where the magic did happen (and still could if he would only take of the blinkers). Positive messages and advice from the elves are written into the wood yet are ignored in favour of embarking on a path of destruction and chaos.
As you move towards the back of the factory signs are there to show the results of how he has run his business - customer returns stacked to the rafters dwarfing the new orders, broken windows and angry scrawled messages represent the enemies that he has made. As a result of his failing business, subsequent debts and diminishing reputation the wolves are circling, with his inability to keep them from his door depicted by a single wolf walking freely through the factory. Through the window shows more destruction, huge areas of forest have been cleared to make way for a transport link yet a rusting truck sits behind deteriorating shutters.
Yet with darkness always exists light and this is depicted by the strong glow that is bursting through into the factory that represents hope, the dove is there to signify hope and protection in times of adversity. All is maybe not lost, the subtle magical details that interact with the shoemakers’ tools and workbench hint at that. The solitary tree that stands in the clearing that the client requested is a further example that the strong will always stand tall. -
- Released: 2016
- Collection: Storyteller
- Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 48” x 36"
- Framed Size: 54” x 41"
Commissions
When workload allows Mark embraces client commissions and has enjoyed amazing success to date. If you have been inspired by the work that you have seen and have a specific idea or simply a seed then please do get in touch.
Commission EnquiriesRelated Items
'Freddy's Coming For You!' - Freddy Krueger Claw Statement Piece
£795.00
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Gepetto he is not, but this carved wooden plinth displays the stuff of nightmares!
This intoxicating piece is the first offering to sit within his 'Against The Grain' series, a body of work that will grow over time and represents Mark's intention to continue to do things differently. Mark has built up an incredible reputation for the level of craft that shines through his unique frames, and it is these details that you now see in this piece.
Everything about this is unique, from Mark hand selecting the piece of Elm at a local timber mill through to carving the claw marks that are soaked in blood red resin. No two will, or can be the same. What starts with a beautiful (and innocent!) piece of Elm, is then stained, blackened, bashed and burnt. The haunting Freddy Claw glove has it's metal blades set into the blood resin channels and is then subjected to the same level of customisation as the plinth.
Limited to what will be just 20 original variations and priced incredibly well considering the level of craftsmanship and hours needed to create each piece. This is something that needs to be seen close up to be truly appreciated, but how close do you dare get to that glove?!
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- Released: 2022
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Hand selected locally sourced Elm (obviously!)
- Hand carved claw marks filled with blood red resin
- Blackened and burned
- Metal bladed claw glove
- Title and number plaque
- Hand signed by artist - Plinth Size (Approx): 19” x 9.5”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
'Grab Your Stick!' - Proton Wand Statement Piece
£995.00
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Now this is for the true obsessive GB fans! Whether you call it a Particle Thrower, Proton Blaster, Proton Gun, Positron Collider, Neutrona Wand, or Proton Wand, the result is the same! This piece looks like it’s been in a real battle and got slimed and fried AF!
I’m always striving to mix things up and look at ways of introducing my art in new formats and connecting with my collectors. Halloween 2022 saw me release something very different, and bloody dark! My Nightmare on Elm Street Claw plinth was the first piece that I have done that broke away from the traditional print editions and I loved every moment of it, and it has been so well received. It was a signal of my intentions to keep pushing and to deliver pieces that were true to my style but working with movie props to create something unique and special, whilst remaining true to my style of work. The aim was to offer a supporting piece that would complement a traditional print edition.So, my ‘RETROPLASM’ series has given me the opportunity to build on this and do something much less dark, although I couldn’t resist getting the blow torch out! ‘Grab Your Stick’ has transformed one of the coolest movie props that there has even been and made it, well I guess, funkier, and that’s before you turn the lights off – yep, the resin base glows in the dark whilst the neon paint also comes alive under lairy coloured light.
You are free to grab your stick, flick the switches and fire the sucker up! It will slam you right back to your childhood, just don’t cross the streams! Why not? Put simply, coz it’s bad, very bad! If you’re fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing, then maybe this will help. Try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.
Oh, but don’t stress too much, batteries are included!
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- Released: 2023
- Collection: RETROPLASM
- Edition Size: 20 Original Variations
- Specification:
- Light up LED, sound effects and vibrations
- Blackened and burned
- Small parts to connect the stand to the wand - fragile - handle with care.
- Hand signed by artist - Baseh Size (Approx): 23.5” x 8”
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- Get in touch for overseas delivery
- Please allow approximately 21 days for delivery, should you need delivery sooner please let us know.
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88 & Out - Original
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- Released: 2019
- Collection: Lost In Hollywood 2
- Specification: 1 of 1 original framed embellished canvas, hand signed by artist.
- Image Size: 48” x 36"
- Framed Size: 54” x 41"