Mark Hess
Illustration, Katonah New York United States
 
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Contact details
Near NYC
Tel: 914 232-5870
Brief Summary
Born to paint and design, Mark has been collaborating on award winning projects since he dropped out of college to pursue his passion over 100 years ago (well, maybe it only seems that long...). At the tender age of 19 he created his first of 16 (and counting) Time magazine covers. His work has been exhibited worldwide and his list of clients, awards and accolades could fill a book (OK, a small one, but still...). He taught illustration at the School of Visual Arts for over a decade, lectured extensively, been a publisher, designed high end restaurant graphics, packaging and advertising, produced 46 U.S. postage stamps and 12 United Nations stamps, painted many privately commissioned portraits and for the last three years has been completing 8 huge murals of the life of Jesus for a private patron (he's the religious one). Hess paintings are included in the collections of corporations, individuals and museums, with the Smithsonian in DC hogging the most: 41.
But the really important thing to know about Mark is his love of solving other people's problems through intellect, humor and craftsmanship. Please give him a call to discuss your next project, share some jokes or shoot the breeze.
Clients
TIME MAGAZINE
IBM
ANHEUSER-BUSCH
HARPER-COLLINS
XEROX
AUREOLE LAS VEGAS
CBS
LEVI-STRAUSS
COORS
ESQUIRE
AMERICAN EXPRESS
TV GUIDE
NEWSWEEK
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
OPRAH MAGAZINE
 U. S. POSTAL SERVICE
ABC
FORDHAM UNIVERSITY
C P STEAK LAS VEGAS
RANDOM HOUSE
ROLLING STONE
RCA
WARNER COMM.
PLAYBOY
BUSINESS WEEK
NOTRE DAME
CHARLIE PALMER FOODS
AIG
SIMON & SCHUSTER
SMITH COLLEGE
AUREOLE NEW YORK
BARD COLLEGE
3M CORPORATION
MOBIL
GRAYSON MT. WATER
DISNEY
NEW YORK TIMES
FORTUNE
HYPERION BOOKS
PARAMOUNT
KNOPF
BUDWEISER
MASTERCARD
HEINEKEN
CHAMPION PAPER
Professional Experience
MARK HESS- a brief biography HessPortraits.com

•Born July 13, 1954
•Raised in Michigan, became a rodeo bull rider at the age of 10
•1972 University of Colorado-Fine Arts major
•Began a career as a painter in 1975 near NYC
•First Gold medal 1976-New York Art Directors Club
•Editors Pick in Robb Report April, 2015
•Works in the collections of Donald Trump, Time Warner, Malcolm Forbes, Smithsonian Museum, Charlie Palmer, National Portrait Gallery, Oklahoma State House, National Postal Museum, Andrus Children’s Center, John & Susan Scofield, the Draime Foundation, Fordham University, Maurice & Carolyn Cunniffe, Bard College, Robert Dallas II, Risa Tabacoff, Natural History Museum, NYC, Jeff & Jennifer Draime, Susan Hoag, etc.
•Hundreds of awards from art journals and organizations worldwide as well as organizations such as; The New York One Show, Detroit, Miami, Connecticut, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco Art Directors Clubs, the Boston Creative Show, Catholic Press Association, etc.
•Exhibited at the Georges Pompidou Museum, Paris; the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, MA, the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC., The National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC., The National Postal Museum in Washington, DC., Housatonic Museum of Art, CT, Lift Trucks Project, NY, etc.
•First piece obtained by The Smithsonian Museum, Wash. DC-1978 (16 pieces currently in the museum’s collection)
•Multiple works in the permanent collection of the National Postal Museum, Wash. D.C.
•17 Time Magazine covers to date; weekly “Person of the Week” artist, Time Asia (first Time cover at age 20)
•5 Newsweek Magazine covers to date
•Dozens of Forbes covers to date including the 75th Anniversary cover
•Designer/Consultant for WindStar Cruises, Seabourn Cruise Line and Holland America
•46 U.S. Postal stamps in circulation including: the series of 4 entitled- “Classic Mail Transportation” stamps voted best of the year in a nationwide poll for 1989; the series of 20 “Legends of the West” also voted best of the year for 1994; and the series of 20 on the “Civil War” also voted best of the year for 1995
•12 United Nations stamps celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union
•Instructor of senior art majors (specializing in portraits) at The School of Visual Arts, NYC for 11 years
•Work published frequently in; Communication Arts, Print Magazine, Graphis, AIGA books, Society of Illustrators
Annuals, etc. Featured artist in Pro-Illustration Volume Two, Graphis 328, etc.
•Frequent speaker and judge at art clubs, schools and art organizations
•Clients include individuals and major Fortune 500 companies: IBM, Xerox, 3M, CBS, ABC, Levi-Strauss, Champion Intl., Coors, Budweiser, Heineken, American Express, MasterCard, Mobil, New York Times, Time, Newsweek, Fortune, Esquire, Forbes, Business Week, Playboy, Rolling Stone, TV Guide, Sports Illustrated, Notre Dame, Stanford, AIG, RCA, U.S. Postal Service, AT&T, Random House, Simon & Schuster, Warner Comm., Knopf, Paramount, Harper-Collins, United Nations, MGM Grand, Oprah Mag., 401K Company, etc.
•Children’s books: Disney’s ‘Hercules’; ‘Drummer Boy’ & ‘What Did I Know of Freedom?’, HarperCollins
•Listed in Who’s Who in American Art
•Mentor for The Richard & Mica Hadar Foundation
•Member of the Portrait Society of America, Society of Illustrators, Graphic Artists Guild, American Philatelic Society
and Board of Directors of Kent Film Festival
•Proud father of 3 children, he lives and works in a rural setting near NYC with his wife and his ‘56 Corvette
 
Awards and Recognition
Work has been exhibited worldwide and his list of clients, awards and accolades could fill a book (OK, a small one, but still...). He taught illustration at the School of Visual Arts for over a decade, lectured extensively, been a publisher, designed high end restaurant graphics, packaging and advertising, produced 46 U.S. postage stamps and 12 United Nations stamps, painted many privately commissioned portraits and for the last three years has been completing 8 huge murals of the life of Jesus for a private patron (he's the religious one). Hess paintings are included in the collections of corporations, individuals and museums, with the Smithsonian in DC hogging the most: 41.
“Mark has painted five portraits for Fordham University (two rather heroic-sized portraits of Archbishop John Hughes, our founder, as well as portraits of three of our major donors), all of which have received rave reviews from all who have seen them. And with good reason. In each case, Mark was able to capture the spirit, character and essence of each of the subjects. (One of his donor portraits was so well done that the donor’s wife asked him to do a second one–which now graces the formal living room in their Connecticut home.)”

– Rev. Joseph M. McShane, S.J., President Fordham University

“This portrait, done entirely by photos we supplied, not only captured the very essence of this impressive man but also hit just the right note with the selection of campus images Mark used as background. We couldn’t have been happier with his work.”

–Sheri Bloom, Director of Development, Andrus Children’s Center

“We really do love that portrait. I smile every time I go by it!
We attended the unveiling of my husband’s portrait last year at the opening of The Cunniffe House at Fordham University. There was a spontaneous and positive reaction to Mark’s painting for its wonderful likeness and for its composition. We immediately ordered a second portrait for our living room. It elicits the same happy reaction from our family and friends.”

–Maurice “Mo” and Carolyn Cunniffe, Fordham alumni and benefactors,
M. Cunniffe is Chairman/CEO of Vista Capital Corporation

“I had the good fortune of locating Mark Hess through one of his colleagues for some commissions I wanted to source. Not only did he embrace my initial thoughts for the works he brought them to life in a form well beyond what I had first imagined. If you have a project requiring the skills of a sensitive, knowledgeable, enthusiastic artist, you do not need to look any further. Mark Hess is for you.”

Stated with all sincerity,
–Jeff Draime, Board of Directors, Walker Art Museum

“Mark Hess is talented, professional, flexible, creative in his approach to each project, and a delight to work with. We have commissioned several portraits for the University – of historical figures – and of generous donors to significant projects – and all are beautiful, relevant, and meticulously prepared and presented.”

–Liz Manigan, Assistant Vice President for Development and University Events, Fordham University

“Unfortunately testimonials have become so full of hyperbole that it makes it difficult to write about an artist’s work without it being dismissed offhand. I hope that my estimations of Mark’s work will not be received that way. So I will continue; his portraits, his magazine covers are skillful, thoughtful and imaginative beyond the ordinary. They are also aesthetically seductive — which is another way of saying you want to continue to look at them beyond the current electronic imperatives to keep scanning — and often incisive in what they have been commissioned to do. There are literally dozens of examples of engaging Hess portraits that bring to life some of the oft photographed mugs of notables… as well as recreating historical figures and events.
These are only minimal reminders of the quality of his art; his reach is truly special. In short, Mark Hess is an intelligent, talented artist. Now if this is not hyperbole, then the word has no meaning, but it is, in my small, impoverished estimation, also true.”

–Burton Silverman, master realist and portrait artist

“Mark, We unveiled the portrait at the picnic. It truly brought tears to the eyes of many of the employees and family. GREAT WORK on your part.“

-Robert (Bobby) Dallas II, CEO, The Dallas Group of America, Inc.

“Mark Hess’s professionalism and patience are crucial qualities for the success of his US postage stamps. Especially for something like the Civil War series, with all of its enthusiasts, the research is beyond comprehensive–including everything from the length of beards to the size of, and distance between buttons. The experts love to pick these things apart and find mistakes. Somehow Mark kept his head above it all, made voluminous changes, and got through it without any factual inaccuracies. As for his artistic contribution, we chose him because there is a unique charm to his paintings… they’re highly interpretive.”

-Terry McCaffrey, Creative Director and Manager of Stamp Development, US Postal Service

“One of the first things I asked Mark to do was a huge oil painting on canvas for my restaurant (he also painted many others, both small and large). He did incredible research and came up with the idea of depicting historically significant chefs with their most famous dishes. Of course he insisted on the authenticity of every detail… I trust Mark’s take on many aspects of my business and he doesn’t have a big ego about his work, which makes him extremely flexible and easy to work with.”

–Charlie Palmer, American celebrity chef, restaurateur, hotel owner and author 
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