Meet Mark Rebennack | Artist, Teacher, Nonprofit Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mark Rebennack and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mark, why did you pursue a creative career?
I’ve always loved art. As a kid, I was always drawing. I remember being in kindergarten and having to stay after school to clean a mural I had painted off of the walls of the school hallway. The teacher had sent us into the hallway 2 kids at a time with a sheet of construction paper. We had paint and some freedom. I think the teacher forgot about us and I found myself with my paper covered and all of this paint left over. I took advantage and started painting the wall. By the time she came back to get us I had painted about 8 to 10 feet of the wall. I don’t even remember what I had painted, but I do remember the look on her face. And I remember having to stay after school that day, scrubbing the paint off the wall with a sponge and bucket of water. And I remember my oder brother and sister waiting in the classroom for me to finish.
As I got older I took art classes, but was drawn more toward graphic arts in high school (screen printing and photography).
I ended up going to the University of Cincinnati for Fine Arts. I graduated in 1999 with a BFA in Drawing and Painting. I didn’t think that visual art would be a career after that. My dream was to move to LA to pursue a career in film and television. That’s how I ended up on the West Coast.
I worked in the film industry for a few years but life had other plans for me. Now I teach. Which allows me the time, stability and freedom to pursue my creativity and passion of creating art.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My current series is based on the breath. Taking what I’ve learned/am learning from my meditation practice, I create pieces comprised of minimalist lifework where each line is one Exhale. These pieces are very organic and tend to turn out looking like ocean waves. They’re calming, contemplative and often give the effect that they’re moving.

This is a practice/process that I started to develop around 2014-15. I think any success that I’ve had up to this point comes from two things: patience and honesty. Being patient enough to allow yourself time and experience to develop your own process is essential. In this current age of distraction, endless scrolling and an abundance of artists showing their work, I think it’s important to have a solid foundation of skill and process that is your own. And honesty is something that I stay true to. Sharing my process, my struggles, my thoughts and frustrations helps me to make meaningful connections with viewers, collectors and other artists.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First we’d have to hit the beach. I’m so connected to water and the ocean. Surfing, swimming, just hanging out are things I love to do with my kids. We’d probably head to Laguna Beach for the day. We could go for a hike or run in the hills near El Moro/Crystal Cove (I run there a lot!), then head to the water to swim and cool off. After that we could walk around town and check out the shops. Lunch at Taco Loco (I’m vegan so their potato and tofu tacos are amazing!). Then head back up to Long Beach, stopping at Grounded Coffee House in Corona Del Mar for afternoon coffee on the way. Take the coast home.

Another trip that’s a must is the high desert. I’ve been going out to a friends house in Flamingo Heights (just 20 minutes from Joshua Tree) for the last 23 years. He recently bought the house from his parents and turned it into a vacation rental: Casa de Conejo. It’s a quiet, beautiful little spot with so much cool stuff to do close-by. I’d definitely want to get tickets for a sound bath at the Integatron (so worth the $$!!), check out Giant Rock and then head into town. The Frontier Cafe has great bagel sandwiches. Then head into Joshua Tree for some bouldering. After a few hours in the park we’d have to grab more coffee at Joshua Tree Coffee Company (and a pound to take home!) and dinner at Pie for the People. The day has to end back at the house with some star-gazing from the hot tub.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, my wife Angela. She’s always been super supportive. We met when I was in art school so that creative part of me has always been a part of our relationship. As we started a family (we have 3 teenagers now) and it was hard to find the time to work in my studio she would always encourage me to just keep taking the small steps to stay involved creatively and artistically. Whether that’s making art, looking at art or talking about art, she has always seen the importance that it plays in my life. We’ve recently renovated our garage so that I have an official studio space.

Another Shoutout to a former college professor, who I now consider a friend and fellow artist, Frank Herrmann. Frank was my Advanced Painting teacher at the University of Cincinnati and has always been a huge inspiration for me as someone who is able to teach and share his love and knowledge of art while also staying true to his creative process and making his own art-making a priority. Although we’re thousands of miles apart, we do keep in touch and support each other through social media.

Website: www.markrebennackart.com

Instagram: @markjrebennackart