SilkMarks by Mark Ford, All Tied Up

While born in Oklahoma, Mark Ford considers himself a native Kentuckian, with his formative years in Metcalfe County.  For the most part, he attended schools in Kentucky, finally graduating from Warren Central. He attended Western Kentucky University with a double major in Art and Psychology.  Mark shared this, “The Art Department was in the basement of Cherry Hall, sort of dungeon like. Then returning one semester, all of a sudden we moved to the most wonderful new Art Department.  What a change, there were windows with light”! 

Mark said, “My art schooling has been periodical bursts of structured classes with intermittent unstructured workshops.  At Western my studio major was Drawing/Pen & Ink.  Then various workshops and opportunities to work with some of the best in formal and informal settings.  The learning seems to take place after the instruction in applications that hopefully lasts continually and blends into other mediums I’ve dabbled in”.

   Pen & Ink was his first love, then weaving, then pottery and then mixing pens in clay, basically anything and everything,  saying he didn’t know there was suppose to be a box anywhere.  Mr. Ford does a lot of ënapkin drawings’ that have gotten a rather wide circulation. These are mostly floral motifs in black pen and ink.  His experience with oils, acrylics or watercolors has been limited though, other than working with the colors he uses on silks.  He stated, “I mostly see things in black white, back to my first love of pen and ink”.

   Mark said, “Recently I have been enthralled with silk painting, ties, scarves, wall hangings.  With the kind patience of my mentor, Dr. Laura McGee, Western Kentucky University German language faculty, I scratched the surface of learning the art of Surti/Gutta Resist Silk Painting.  Then I started to combine silk painting with leather book binding, called “Quarter Bound” binding, leather embossed index and partial covers merged with painted silk.   I’ve continued to do a variety of interesting, unique effects on leather bindings including thermograph, burning images with a heat pen, and leather painting in conjunction with conventional book binding of cook books, Bibles and other personal favorites needed and wanted with leather restoration on rebinding. Since I’ve taken up the pursuit of learning the lost art of bookbinding I realize the joining of my love for the arts with the realization of an income as in binding, rebinding or restoration of them has become a service as well as a piece of art.  Beautiful books I have a special love for, especially those of a beautiful leather nature embossed and gold gilded. The fine papers & prints, those very old that have show their owners appreciation by being read and well used.  I couldn’t fathom ceasing any of my varied artistic pursuits even though they may not be profitable at times”.  

   “My favorite artist would be those of the M.C. Escher direction, Dali, Bosch, tempered with Norman Rockwell.  The artists I’ve personally known and come to appreciate, like myself, are inspired by many things. I think, for me it is mainly the intricacy of what already exists in nature, be it rhythmic patterns, angles in geometry found on leaf, or complex forms in crystals, cells, molecules or scales on a butterfly’s wing, said Mark..

   Mr. Ford shared studio space with  his dear friends & artists at the Pushin Building Artist Studio, but has more recently relocated most of his studio art materials to join his bookbinding printing & embossing tools at his home studio/shop  just outside bustling downtown Browning, Kentucky.  Mark said he loves drawing in the audience of classical music, but finds it just as interesting to draw or paint with jazz and blues.  He said the music definitely affects the theme and outcome of the piece, especially if I change what he is listening to in midstream.  

   Mark Ford has shown in some of the Gallery Hops, on the square with the Guild,  the World’s Greatest Studio Tour and most recently the Celebration of the Arts at the Kentucky Museum on Western’s campus where he was pleased to receive a first place in a fiber arts category.

  “Artists seem to lose the concept of time when they are painting, sculpting, or drawing.  We all just want more time to enjoy the garden, our canvas, or friends, and other peaceful pursuits. I’ve come to have solid confidence that we were intended to enjoy art as an observer, artist or both, forever on this lovely planet, There is no art of, or in dying, it interrupts an artist and the art appreciator alike.  As Isaiah was inspired to recorded, “the work of our own hands (art)” we will have the opportunity to “enjoy to the full, stated Mark.”     You can contact Mark Ford by email at:  Mark@SilkMarks.com

About the author: Ronnie Jaggers is a seasoned sculptor, fine artist and master crafter. Her work can be seen on ChiseledFeaturesStudio.webs.com. She reminds other artists “Trust the beauty of your art, for if you see the beauty, others will too.” To be considered for the featured artist call Ronnie at 791-3505 or email ChiseledFeaturesStudio@yahoo.com