Alongside his son Jake, Mark Szymanski had long shared ideas, critiqued work, and encouraged one another through the creative process—often helping each other determine when a painting was truly complete. Over time, it became clear they were more than two artists working under the same roof; they were a collaborative team. Mark’s artistic journey began in the early 1970s with a stack of Walter Foster instruction books and a determined drive to improve. A pivotal moment in third grade—when he realized a classmate could draw better than he could—sparked a lifelong commitment to growth. Known for sketching more than focusing on schoolwork, Mark often filled assignments with drawings, sometimes even signing them with doodles instead of his name. By junior high, he was drawing seriously, and by eighth and ninth grade, he had begun painting and accepting small commissions from friends and family. After college, he continued painting recreationally, though he often felt a lack of direction. That changed in his late thirties when he discovered the writings of Stapleton Kearns. Through Kearns’ guidance, Mark immersed himself in foundational art texts, studying and replicating drawings until the lessons became second nature. During this time, he also began teaching his children to draw, focusing on the principles of light, shape, and shadow. Jake quickly demonstrated a natural aptitude, particularly in his understanding of mass and brushwork. By his mid-teens, father and son were painting side by side, refining their skills in tandem. Having lived throughout Michigan—from Copper Harbor in the Keweenaw Peninsula to Detroit and Lansing—Mark’s surroundings have played a central role in shaping his work. The state’s diverse landscapes continue to influence both artists’ palettes, compositions, and shared passion for realism. Today, Michigan Artist Studio stands as a natural extension of that lifelong journey—a father and son dedicated to capturing the beauty of the place they call home. Artist StatementI paint oil landscapes inspired by the many places I’ve walked, lived, and quietly observed throughout Michigan. Water often finds its way into my paintings—whether as a Great Lake, a pond in a clearing, or a winding swamp trail—because it’s as much a part of Michigan as it is a part of my memory. I work realistically without being hyper-detailed, aiming to create not a record of what I saw, but a distilled experience—like a memory told in paint. Having painted for over fifty years, I draw on my time spent outdoors, the mentorship I received as a young artist, and a lifetime of study through books, observation, and teaching others. I approach composition like storytelling, guiding the viewer with color, line, and shape to create a particular feeling—calm, presence, or nostalgia. My goal is not just to paint a scene, but to help others feel the quiet poetry of that moment in nature. Selected methods: plein air studies • oil layering & glazing • oil on linen • studio finishes