Mark A. Cole was born and raised in Joplin, Missouri. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Missouri Southern State University and his Master of Arts degree from Pittsburg State University. He now teaches art at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School in Joplin, Missouri and enjoys creating at his home studio in Carl Junction, Missouri. Mark shares his home with his lovely wife, Gelmis, and their twins, Nathan & Sarah.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT: ” I have always been intrigued by the aging process of old photographs and prints—from their unique saturation of colors to the distressed look brought upon by human touch and handling. The greatest influence to these pieces is the daguerreotype process, yet the natural stylization and inherent sense of decay in the image are what provides its character. My process is manipulating my photographs by transferring the image to a canvas or board and applying different mediums like watercolors, dyes, pastels, etc. This gives my art a unique aged and distressed effect which provides a sense of balance between the past and present. I apply this process to my subject matter, which I enjoy doing landscapes, nature, and people.”