* All images used with permission. Please do not distribute without first contacting the artist.
Mark Demsteader was born in 1963 in Manchester, where he still lives and works. He is largely self-taught, having spent many years in life drawing classes, developing a drawing style through close observation of the human form.
He uses pastel and gouache to put down clean and assured lines. Demsteader intends for his models to live and breathe, and for their expression and poise conveying a sense of narrative that invites the viewer to ask questions.
His work has been exhibited worldwide.
"If any artist wants to learn about creating a "mood" in a painting, look no further than Mark Demsteader's works. His ability to "submerge" the viewer into the emotions of his paintings is astonishing. You don't look at a Demsteader painting... you experience it. His trademark combination of realism and abstraction only go to enhance the emotional content of every painting and drawing that he does. And as much as his technical prowess presents a variety of styles, his images present even more complex display of emotions. His paintings have the ability to elicit a myriad of responses. While some see isolation, others see introspection. While some see hope, others see despair. No two people will walk away from a Demsteader with the same and ideally, isn't that what every artist hopes to achieve?"
