Mark Berens grew up on the Shores of Georgian Bay when he first came under the influence of the Canadian landscape painted so often by the members of the Group of Seven. From an early age, Mark Berens has been immersed in the world of painting, as both of his grandparents were artists. He still recalls fond memories of the oily scent of his Grandmother’s studio space. Berens started experimenting with oils during his first year at OCAD and instantly found it to be his choice medium for creative expression. Upon graduating in 1999 with an illustration degree, Berens ventured down the road of editorial illustration only to find himself creatively unfulfilled. He longed for the fulfillment of personal expression, which he knew would slowly evaporate if he continued his career in the illustration industry. Berens longed to hold a paintbrush once again. An inspirational trip to Whistler instantly reconnected Berens with the outside world, and an inevitable passion to paint his natural surroundings. He instantly began a new artistic journey – representing landscapes through oil paint. Since this poignant trip, Berens has traveled to many parts of Canada in search of picturesque scenes that would in turn inspire new landscape pieces. Since his return back to Ontario, his body of work is now dominated by Georgian Bay subject matter, which demonstrates his personal connection to the natural world that cannot help but be inspiring and fresh. Mark recently moved to the Georgian Bay area, and currently resides in the Blue Mountains. The surface quality of his landscapes is thick, creamy, and rich in the palette of nature’s liveliness. Berens is particularly noted for his ability to capture depth and light through textured dabs of a well-calculated colour palette. Upon viewing a Berens Oil, it is almost as if one could reach out and pick up one of his fallen leaves. Through closer inspection, the quality of the paint reveals itself in a somewhat abstract manner, creating a unique bilateral dynamic for viewing.