His first job was picking cotton under the Texas sun.
Today, from New York to Paris, he could live virtually anywhere in the world and do his thing. His art is shown and sold in seven galleries across the nation.
And yet Mark English chooses to live and create his art right here. And that says everything you need to know about how fond he is of Kansas City. After all, this isn’t considered a major market for art or, for that matter, artists.
Sure, there some amazing painters here. But it’s not like this is an art mecca.
So when I sat down with English at Woodside Health Club, where he plays tennis, I asked about his work and why he chooses to live here.
He explained that after working as an illustrator in New York for 12 years, he realized it was time to make a change. That change came in 1977 as the result of an offer from Hallmark Cards Inc. to consider taking a job as an artist-in-residence and to teach art classes for one year.
English accepted the offer, and he’s never left Kansas City. Today, English, who is married for the second time, has five children and lives in a home just south of the Country Club Plaza.
“I didn’t mean to stay, but I was kind of looking for a different spot,” English said. “My older children also live here. So I can’t leave.”
English finds Kansas City, with its Midwestern charm and scenic farm settings, the perfect place to paint.
“I enjoy it,” English said. “I’ve made a lot of friends here. It’s really convenient to get to everything. I’m close to all the restaurants. It’s close to where I golf, play tennis and do all the stuff I like to do.”
English doesn’t mince words when it comes to the local art world. This is not Manhattan, and it never will be.
“Artwise, I don’t think we rank very well,” English said. “I don’t think there’s the interest in it here. There is interest here. But not to the extent as it was back East or in a lot of cities.”
English primarily works in oils. Landscapes are his bread and butter. Lately he’s been painting his share of figurative works.
“My work is pretty abstract,” English said. “My work changes little by little constantly. It always has.”
English has a book of his work that includes 156 images. The first sentence in the book addresses his disdain for repetition.
“The primary reason I change so much is boredom,” English said. “I get tired of doing the same thing over and over. Picasso said that the worst thing you could do is imitate yourself. That’s worse than imitating somebody else.
“I’m constantly trying something new to keep myself interested.”
English was born in Hubbard, Texas, in 1933. He moved to Connecticut in 1964 and became one of America’s top magazine illustrators.
His first editorial illustrations in the Saturday Evening Post led to nonstop work in major publications such as Reader’s Digest, The Ladies’ Home Journal, Good Housekeeping, Sports Illustrated, Redbook and Time.
Today, at 75, he still paints every day, creating 60 to 80 works a year. He’s won over 100 awards, and his work is coveted by art lovers and private collectors across the nation.
As far as the future is concerned, English plans to continue to crank out his works at the same pace. And he plans to do it all while living right here in Kansas City.
Join the discussion
Share your observations and experiences about news. Lively, open debate is the goal, but please refrain from personal attacks or comments that are racist, vulgar or otherwise inappropriate. If you see an inappropriate comment, please click the "Report as violation" link to notify a KansasCity.com editor. Thanks for your feedback.