Bowl of Grapes, 2017

Mark Gaskin  

Mark Gaskin is a post-Modern painter who blends the effects of ancient fresco and mural art with contemporary subject matter. His fascinating technique – in which his painting surfaces are purposefully distressed – conjures the textures of prehistoric cave painting, ancient Roman painting, and Renaissance fresco painting. Gaskin deploys a number of methods and materials to achieve his surfaces, among them rolling up canvases prepared with gesso that's dried to create craquelure. He then mixes his paints with wax to soften bright pigments – a technique known as encaustic. His subtle, appealing palette of waxen pastel colors and his contemporary subject matter then 'fades' into what one could call 'faux-ancient' painting grounds to mimic the effect of dreamscapes or misty places in the mind's eye. The soft, cloud-like aura of his works is gentle to view, as if softened by the fog of time and indelible memory. He captivates us with today's imagery, while alluding to the great, classic art of the past – Gaskin, thereby original in his message and method.

The work of Mark Gaskin is welcome proof, if any were needed, that painting is and remains a major form of art in the waning days of the twentieth century. - Leo Rosshandler, I.A.A.C. Curator Emeritus, Musee des Beaux Arts, Montreal, March 1997