Mazz Oil Paintings - "inspired with passion, styled with a palette knife"


ARTIST MAZZ 
(see photo's below)   
- His Oil Paintings are collected worldwide and is known for Palette knife work, Bold Brush Strokes & Extreme Depth. "I like painting fast & loose, with lots of intricate details".  He first started selling his Artwork during the 1980's ....... MAZZ is a Purely Self-taught Artist whose influences were A.E. Backus, Harold Newton, Sam Newton & the Hudson River School.  Mazz used to Hunt & Trap during the 1970's  "Growing up in the country, next to the Adirondack Mountains in Northern New York State, I fished, hunted and trapped on a regular basis.. . I used to check my muskrat, raccoon & fox traps early in the morning - then walk a few more miles to school".  At 13 - 15, He sold the stretched skins to companies where they would be tanned and turned into coats and other clothing..


FISHING, PAINTING & BILLIARDS  A Strong Believer in the Powers of the Mind.....He picked up a brush and decided to paint "I Painted like it was a Passion, like it was in my Blood - like I was Hypnotized. Hours fly by, you get lost in the painting, you don't think about eating or sleeping"  he also picked up a Pool Cue and become proficient at both.  Mazz has always loved Fishing and viewed his passions of Fishing, Painting & Playing Pool as being similar and said  "It's Imagination, Technique and it's All in the Stroke He won several trophies in Pool & played with Pool Champions, Steve Mizerak, Al Koklys and Ray Martin.  Unfortunately a serious spinal injury sidetracked him.

Florida.  Some of Mazz relatives lived in Florida in the 1940s.  As a young boy in the 1960's, he would visit Florida with his parents...and then moving to Florida a decade later.

1979 -1980  While living in Miramar FL in the winter of 1979 & 1980, he started painting Florida Seascapes, selling them along the Hollywood and Ft. Lauderdale beach."I never had any art lessons, but I needed to make money.  I met other artists and knew that I had the talent because I used to sketch fish and animals as a young boy"....... "Fishing, painting and girls in Ft. Lauderdale,  what else can be better than that?  Time to get serious and go to college!!!......"After college I moved to Jupiter FL"  He sold paintings at the Marina on Singer Island.  In 1987 he fished at the Jupiter Inlet daily and painted at night....Looking for unspoiled nature and other fishing spots, he moved to Hobe Sound and then St. Lucie county in the late 80's. He still fishes on a regular basis.

A.E. Backus 'BEANIE BACKUS' - Mazz used to visit him during the 1980's where he received 'intense inspiration to paint vibrant Florida landscapes and clouds'. "when I first became serious about painting, everyone told me that I must meet Beanie Backus,  I dressed up nice to show respect, but I soon realized I was overdressed.  I drove to his house. I was greeted by Beanie and several other people.  Everyone was very laid back, very friendly and just hanging out lounging around. They didn't ask me any questions or who I was, just invited me in to hangout and talk, lounge around, I met lot of different people.  I told him I'm a painter...  Beanie was thawing out a chicken on the table... Each time I visited he always treated me like an old friend at his home. He made great food and gave me painting tips". "His paintings were awesome!"  Additionally, Mazz received painting tips from Backus student and wonderful artist; Jackie Brice, who lives across the street from Mazz's parents.

NEWTON & HIGHWAYMEN -  Mazz's influences were A.E. Backus, Harold & Sam Newton. In addition to painting tips from Beanie Backus,  Mazz received Advanced training under Legendary Florida Artist SAM NEWTON. ....... Additional techniques he learned from Highwayman Robert Lewis .. . 'Sam Newton has been a tremendous influence and I've learned many advanced palette techniques from him'. "I love the works of Backus, Newtons and Highwaymen". 

"BROKEN NECK STOPS FLORIDA ARTIST".. (See Photos below) After 2 major spinal surgeries to take pressure of his spinal cord and rebuild his entire cervical Spinal Column from C-2 to T1 with human bone transplants & titanium plates/screws in his spine.....Mazz has regained some of the feeling back in his painting hand. He paints now on a limited basis. "You can achieve almost anything if you put your mind to it - you just have to stay positive, focused, determined & always help others" 

STATES HIGHEST HONOR. Mazz received the Highest Honor in 1994 from the State of Kentucky. The Governor, Brereton C. Jones, Awarded Mazz the Highest Honor for his service and accomplishments.

FAMOUS COLLECTORS. MAZZ's ORIGINALS are collected by Several Famous People including: Rock Star; DAVE HLUBEK the Lead Guitarist of the Florida band, MOLLY HATCHET .  
www.Mollyhatchet.com   Hollywood Movie Actress CHRIS NOEL, who starred in movies with ELVIS PRESLEY, Steve McQueen.. (See photos below of Chris Noel below, also rock star Dave Hlubek).   www.ChrisNoel.com  Other collectors include Pro Athletes, Florida Politicians, Entertainers, Florida State University FSU, Tallahassee..

 

20th Century Fox Films   In 2015,   20th Century Fox Films hired Mazz to make paintings for producer Tim Burton & his movie Miss Peregrine Home for Peculiar Children. "It was a great experience but It was hectic. My Dad was in Jupiter Hospital with a life threatening illness and I'm visiting him daily from St. Lucie, then painting all night and driving back and forth to Tampa, where the set was".


MAZZ Art can be seen at Attorney's Offices,  Accounting Firms, Corporate & Private Art collections in the United States and across  Canada & Europe.

Method & Style with Made in the USA Materials;  Mazz believes in Quality, especially a Work of Art, which will last for Hundreds of Years.  He cuts and primes his boards. He uses Made in the USA Hardboards, Paints and Linseed Oil. He uses Italian Palette knives & his own technique for creating the 3D effects and dynamic impressions. Natural Hog Bristle brushes are used for the background work. He works in the 'Alla Prima' method'- completing the entire painting, from start to finish in one setting!  Mazz says: "I set up a blank board on the Easel,  then I paint all my Energy & Artist Passion into it, then I stop and Never touch it again" ... "I visualize the scene, like a place that I want to fish at or hike through"........Mixing Technique;  Thick oil paint  - Impasto Style, sometimes mixed right on the board - with colors meshing together, giving it a wonderful effect. (as opposed to the traditional way of painting layers over dried paint) ...... 

 Magnificient Impressionist nature scenes;. MAZZ likes to add Flair to his paintings. He doesn't want his paintings to appear too realistic or photographic  He likes to 'bring out & highlight' a certain aspect of nature. Hence, a Spectacular Cloud scene, a Glorious fire sky, or a certain Tree which 'stands out' or radiates from the suns glowing rays.

SIGNATURE & 'BLACK EGRET LOGO'  Mazz signs his paintings with either his knickname 'Mazz' or 'Mark Mazzarella'  Look for his Trademark 'Black Egret Logo' on the painting. He Also signs his Full Name and Logo on the Back...and sketches a unique design with a Permanent Marker.

DONATIONS:  The Artist belives in giving something back and has Donated his Art in order to help many causes including People with Disabilities, Wildlife Sanctuaries, 4H Auction Events.

MEMBERSHIP: Although Mazz has never had any formal Art Schooling, he's had Memberships with the prestigious NATIONAL ACADEMY MUSEUM & SCHOOL OF FINE ARTS, the NATIONAL OIL & ACRYLIC PAINTERS SOCIETY & the INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF MARINE PAINTERS.

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