I’m Mark Zanowski and I’m an artist from Milwaukee, WI. 

In 2007, having no formal training, I began having fun with the plethora of leftover rusty cans of latex house paint sitting dormant in our basement by painting murals in our children's rooms. I then completed three landscape paintings for my wife's office. 

In 2012, I was passionately inspired by Christ to begin a series of black and white paintings focused on Jesus. I never before painted with acrylics or on canvas, so it was an adventure in experimentation. I found people so inspired by the paintings. What then became The Jesus Collection was displayed in others' homes, churches, at meetings, and in schools. I saw the reaction from those experiencing my work and it was then I realized I wanted to pursue painting further and, after 25 years of working in the corporate world, I found I could bring joy to others by putting paint to the canvas.

By 2018 I decided to add bright, intense, and bold colors while painting family pets. Friends and family showed such interest in my work. In 2022-23, I completed a study of the work of Van Gogh. I combined some of Van Gogh's most famous paintings with the adventures of my muse, my German Shepherd Maisy. The result was a whimsical and often humorous journey with bright colors and bold brush strokes in a series titled Maisy Meets Van Gogh. The series was featured throughout the 2023 festival season. The series will continue to appear throughout 2024 while debuting a sample of my latest series, Maisy Out on the Range. The series is a tribute to Maisy's true grit as a hard-working German Shepherd and her desire for a big sky over an open range.

Both the Van Gogh and Open Range series are accompanied by imaginative short, short stories dreamed up while putting paint to the canvas. The images and stories together illustrate the endless possibilities of adventure between a man and his dog. Maisy Out on the Range will continue into 2025. At the same time, I continue adding to The Jesus Collection.

When I’m not painting in my home studio, I enjoy cycling with my wife and spending time with our German Shepherds, Maisy and Manchego.

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