MARK TAVARES ARTIST

THE place to see the latest Paintings, Portraits, Caricatures, Commissions, and other stuff from ME, Mark Tavares! View my full portfolio at www.marktavares.com Buy prints through my Fine Art America store at http://mark-tavares.artistwebsites.com/

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Trying out some ideas on a Friday night. This could work! #dawnofthedead #zombies #tomsavini #blades #biker #ideas #painting #sketch https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp6p5I7OfIe/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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The time has come! Erin and I once again have been given the great pleasure of curating a show for the SugarMynt Gallery in Pasadena. “When There’s No More Room In Hell!” pays tribute to the life and films of Director George A. Romero and the 45th Anniversary of his classic 1978 epic “Dawn of the Dead”. Over 30 artists will be showing some amazing artwork. There will be some other surprises as well! More to come! Stay tuned! Opening 4/8 and going to 5/31! Get your tickets now!!! #dawnofthedead #zombie #romero #horror #gallery #art #classic #artforsale (at SugarMynt Gallery) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpvhqq7vg-O/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Last weekend we got our nerd on at Gallifrey One, the annual Doctor Who gathering here in L.A.! I’ve come to love the convention because it’s a more intimate gathering that truly feels like one of the shows I used to attend in the late 70s. A real draw for fans is the amount of access you get with cast and crew from all eras of the show. (They also invite celebs from other sci-fi universes. “Stargate”, “Star Trek” and the OG “Battlestar Galactica” were represented this time out.) The photo ops are especially popular! We like doing them just to see just how much the guests are down to clown! Nobody disappoints! Speaking of which I can’t say enough good things about Ms. Jodie Whittaker! Having recently retired from the role of the Doctor, the con was her goodbye to the fans! For three days she did multiple panel discussions, cocktail receptions, posed for an endless line of pictures and signed thousands of autographs. She did all of that with seemingly boundless energy and good cheer! What a wonderful human being! All that AND getting to meet the very delightful Sarah Rush and Laurette Spang of the original BSG = Banner Weekend!! #gallifreyone #jodiewhittaker #convention #scifi #doctorwho #battlestargalactica #stargate #nerd https://www.instagram.com/p/CpCWOLTubR1/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It’s Picard Night! We are celebrating the premiere of the new season with a special concoction. “Battle Stations” is a whisky based version of a Mai Tai created by @trader_brandon and dedicated to Starfleet’s newest hard ass Captain, Liam Shaw, played by Todd Stashwick(@tstashwick) BTW Episode One KICKS ASS!! #startrek #picard #nerdsrule #haterscansuckit https://www.instagram.com/p/CowGgOgOWVR/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“A Vampire’s Kiss” (14 x 17 with frame, Oil on Masonite, ©️Mark Tavares. Available for purchase at The SugarMynt Gallery starting 2/11/2023) This is the other piece I am submitting for the Vampire inspired “Bite Me” show at the SugarMynt Gallery. It is my take on Nicolas Cage’s unhinged, would be bloodsucker from 1988’s “Vampire’s Kiss”. As an extra little bit of detail I included one of his two extra crunchy co-stars on the frame. This piece and my Buffy inspired “Slaybill” painting (and prints) will be available for purchase at the gallery starting 2/11 and running through March. Follow @sugarmyntgallery for details! #vampire #horror #1980s #nicolascage #caricature #oilpainting #insanity #cockroach #yum https://www.instagram.com/p/CoYdr6SJ-DM/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Happy Birthday to this amazing human I am privileged to call my wife! She would rather be out hiking/running with friends than sleeping in on her special day! 😂😂😂 Hey, it was a beautiful morning! How could we resist? Happy Birthday Erin! @edoghaggerty #happybirthday (at Hog's Back Trail) https://www.instagram.com/p/CoQJUN-PR7C/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“Portrait of Ray Harryhausen” and “Portrait of Martin Landau as Bela Lugosi” (16 x 20. Oils on Stretched Canvas and Masonite respectively. ©️Mark Tavares) Available for sale. Store link in bio. ********* This past Saturday, Erin and I attended a Celebration of Life for our old friend Brent Armstrong who passed last October. It was truly a bittersweet affair. It was so nice to see so many folks sharing memories of what a wonderful and giving friend he was. There was also a sad finality about it that made me realize he truly was gone. . As the event came to a close, Brent’s daughter Alexandra presented me with these two paintings. A number of years ago when I was starting out on my art journey, Brent purchased these paintings from me. Having his support as a friend meant the world to me. Having an artist of his caliber buy my artwork was incredibly validating. That was just the kind of generous soul he was. . The family didn’t feel it was right to sell the paintings so they graciously returned them to me. I proposed that I would in turn put them up for sale on my store at the same price Brent paid for them all those years before. The proceeds of the sales will be donated in Brent’s name to a charity TBD that deals with substance abuse and addiction. . The paintings are now live on the store. The link is in my bio. I felt this was the least I could do to honor his memory. Thanks for reading! One last thing, hug those in your life who are important to you and let them know how you feel! #rip #memorial #charity #donation #friends https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn2wMtRPUZo/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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I STILL can’t show you anything from my current projects! (NDAs and all that) Therefore I am going to do something even better; signal boost my friend and most excellent artist Lori Herbst who is having a solo show at the SugarMynt Gallery in Pasadena starting tomorrow night! She has I believe 23 new works debuting at this show all done in her signature style. That includes this most excellent “Creature from the Black Lagoon” portrait framed in an actual ship’s port hole!! Friday the 13th! 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Follow @sugarmyntgallery and @loribherbst (alt. page @loriherbstartist) for all the goodness!!! #gallery #soloshow #loriherbst #vinyl #portrait #newart #artforsale https://www.instagram.com/p/CnVHp21SUMI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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A little late but it’s here now! “The Autonomous F/X 2022 Advent Calendar” Holiday Greeting Card (18 x 24, Digital) ************************************* One of my favorite things I have been able to do for the last several years is illustrate the official greeting card for my friends over at Autonomous F/X Inc. Jason and Mike are such gracious clients and have really got this down to a science. They come to me with great ideas which they encourage me to interpret in my own way. Within a day or two of the initial meeting, I receive an email with the list of employees and their unique interests and personality traits. I also get a Dropbox full of reference photos! (After all this time I can only imagine what must go through everyone’s mind when December rolls around and Mike starts walking through the shop asking to take their photos!😀) . Depending on the idea for the card, the large number of employees sometimes makes it impractical to paint traditionally. The scope of last year’s Circus card for example was so big that each person’s head was about the size of a dime. This made establishing likenesses difficult to say the least! This year I decided to go all digital! This allowed much greater flexibility in painting the caricatures, manipulating elements and making any necessary changes. . What really makes this all come together are the Autonomous employees. These folks are always such good sports about the little bits of snark thrown their way. They really make this a lot of fun to do! Thanks! . #merrychristmas #happyholidays #greetingcards #adventcalendar #caricature #digitalart #goodsports https://www.instagram.com/p/Cmw0uAFP0MG/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“The Exorcist” was released this week back in 1973. Since we were back East in DC recently for a friend’s wedding, Erin and I had to pop over to Georgetown to see those famous steps for ourselves. Of course, being the clumsy oaf that I am I slipped and did a Father Karras all the way down the stairs and now my neck hurts like a sunnuvagun! #notreally #vacation #wedding #theexorcist #horror #exorciststeps #oopsie #whyyoudothistomedimi https://www.instagram.com/p/CmufSR7ybcW/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Sorry for not posting anything lately but I am hip deep in an annual year-end commission! Busy busy busy! (If you know, you know) Will post some new stuff as soon as I deliver this sucker!! #happyholidays #commission #caricature #digitalart #iloveworkingwithfriends https://www.instagram.com/p/CmaPYKHvr96/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“Let’s Talk About Our Big Butts” (30 x 20. Oil on Masonite in a Custom Mixed Media Integrated Frame ©️Mark Tavares. Original Painting and 16 x 12 prints FOR SALE at www.sugarmynt.com) ******************** Once again the SugarMynt Gallery in Pasadena transitions into the Holiday Season in style. The new “Deadly Nightshade” exhibit celebrating the films of Tim Burton is in full swing. Stop by for a blast of Holiday cheer and say “Hi” to Pee Wee and Simone while you’re there! All artwork may be purchased on site or through the gallery’s web page. #happyholidays #timburton #peeweeherman #peeweesbigadventure #cabazondinosaurs #oilpainting #portrait #caricature #gifts #supportlocalartists https://www.instagram.com/p/Clh0oQ_LHYU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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“Planning the PURRRfect Crime!” (40 x 28. Oil on Maple Plywood Panel in a Custom Mixed Media Integrated Frame. ©️Mark Tavares) ************************* D-Con After Action Report Part Deux of Deux: The other truly amazing event that took place this past weekend involved the delivery of this painting to a very important client! This is the short version of a long and twisted tale. . My friend David Rhodes is like me a HUGE fan of the 1966 “BATMAN” program. In December of 2019 at a mutual friend’s Holiday Party, David asked if I would be interested in painting a portrait of his favorite character, Catwoman played by the always purrrrrfect Eartha Kitt. Of course I was!! Since there was no rush I would start it in the new year after Erin and I got back from a vacation in Maui. That was March 2020. We all know what happened next. . It would take us almost three years to go from concept to finished product all while navigating all the fun that came with our new COVID world. . The process started with David’s suggestion of using the plot of Ms. Kitt’s first episode (to steal a special gold gown designed by Rudi Gernreich for Queen Bess of Belgravia) as a jumping off point. David also was intrigued by the Integrated “3-D” frames I was making for my other projects. With a bit of back and forth, I came up with this concept based on the scene in her lair where she is lounging on a bed of furs and plotting the bold crime! I found some fabrics that matched the various leopard print pillows and such from the scene. I then created the frame with sculpted epoxy forms which I would cover with the fur. I transferred the sketch to the artboard, made sure everything matched up with the sculpted fur and went to work! A quick side note here: I am very proud of the “cat’s ear” points on the frame. The woodworking may not seem like much but for me it was a HUGE accomplishment! 😀 . All in all I am very happy with how this turned out. I am also eternally grateful for David’s patience and enthusiasm throughout. Next time though, we’re gonna have deadlines! 😂 . #batman #catwoman #earthakitt #portrait #oilpainting #customframe #commission https://www.instagram.com/p/ClS1XZlOdqB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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D-Con After Action Report Part One: I am pleased to report that Operation:Designercon 2022 was a success. Admittedly it was slow going at the beginning off the campaign. Like many of my fellow vendors, I was finding it a little difficult to get traction with the customers. However that was offset by old friends (like the pictured Henrik Van Rizin! Wow!) and new acquaintances stopping by the booth. . On Sunday afternoon a couple of hours from closing, something quite unexpected happened. A very nice couple came into the booth and started eyeing my John Carpenter/Caravaggio mash up. As couples do, they were teasing each other about whether they should buy the painting. Erin and I have fantasy window shopped like that all the time. “You should buy me that car, darling! No? Don’t you love me?” 😂 I thought that was all it was going to be until she broke out her credit card and BOUGHT THE PAINTING! . As my father has often said, these shows aren’t necessarily about making a lot of money. It’s more “missionary work” as in trying to get your name and face out there along with the art. Still it is always nice when one clears enough to at least pay for the booth. I am extremely grateful that these wonderful folks stopped by and decided to spend their money with me. It means a lot. It made the show for us! I do hope they enjoy the painting for many years to come! . #dcon #designercon #sellingart #happycustomers #happyartist https://www.instagram.com/p/ClPwpRFp9h7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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It’s November and that can only mean one thing. Yes, it’s Designercon weekend once again! Being the self-marketing WHIZ that I am, I have chosen to wait until three hours into the first night of the event to promote my booth on the social meteors! Thankfully my wife is a lot more hip on that front and provided the first four pics of our booth set up. Hey, I took the selfie!! If you are in Anaheim this weekend and looking to immerse yourself in an ocean of creative artistry, come to Designercon at the Anaheim Convention Center! Lots to see! Lots to buy! Stop by booth 2528 and say “HI”! (Hey that rhymes!) #dcon #designercon #artshow #gifts #caricature #portrait https://www.instagram.com/p/ClIOj2xLFtf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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To know Brent Armstrong was to love him ..and occasionally be irritated by him 😘 but mostly to love him! I met Brent early on in my career in makeup effects. He was a driven, passionate artist who didn’t suffer fools gladly! He reveled in being a curmudgeon but once you got past that you encountered one of the most generous souls I had ever met. . I did several caricatures of him over the years. I never held back when drawing him. Even so, Brent would be on me to up the ante. He didn’t shy away from who he was. There were no limits with him! . Several years ago, Brent retired from the effects business. It was becoming drudgery to him and he wanted to pursue loftier art goals. The large scale fine art sculptures of classic movie monsters that he created were a sight to behold. He put everything he had into those works. It was this renewed dedication to his artistic passions that inspired me to get serious about my own art. . Brent passed away last Monday at the age of 69. We had lost contact with each other a number of years back. Life happens that way. However I had heard from some mutual friends recently that his health had begun to deteriorate in the last few years. I was hoping we might bump into each other again at a Monsterpalooza but that was not to be. Wherever he is now, I hope he is at peace, pain free, and not bothering Boris Karloff and Vincent Price with too many fan boy questions! 😂 . Rest easy, pal. . #rip https://www.instagram.com/p/CkcSpO0ri6B/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Given that Halloween falls on a Monday this year, my wife Erin is participating in some of the company sponsored holiday shenanigans happening today at NBC. She asked if I could make her up as a character like we’ve done in the past. Unfortunately not having done this in a few years (thanks COVID) and it being last minute, I had nothing in my dusty kit to use. NO PROBLEM!! One quick trip to @nigelbeautyemporium to pick up some prepackaged Tinsley Transfers followed by 30-40 minutes of application and sloppy Skin Illustrator coloring et VOILÀ! Erin is successfully transformed into “2022 Jamie Lee Curtis as Laurie Strode Cosplaying as Bill Paxton from ‘Near Dark’!” JUST LIKE WE PLANNED! Yeeaahhh, that’s the ticket… #halloween #costume #makeup #jamieleecurtis #party #neardark #lauriestrode https://www.instagram.com/p/CkPJzBfvj2V/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=