Mark Martel

About Mark Martel:



Mark Martel

Aloha, I’m Mark Martel, fine artist, illustrator and writer in Captain Cook, Hawaii. I paint landscapes, wildlife, figures, and other subjects in watercolor, acrylic, oil, gouache, pastel and charcoal.

I began as a designer and art director and evolved toward illustrator and fine artist; from working for corporations to creating art for individuals and collectors. My work has appeared in half the states and more than a dozen countries. My  wife Kate and I moved from Ohio in 2013 after falling in love with the Big Island.

I’ve built an extensive catalog of local landscapes, wildlife, and fine art pieces. My most popular series, "If the Masters Painted Hawaii" reimagines well-known masterpieces in a Hawaiian context. And I continue to illustrate books and comics, and even write some.

You never know what may be on my easel—crisp, realistic watercolors, cubist chameleons, sunsets painted live, maybe even pages from a graphic novel—but you’ll find an abundance of art unique to South Kona and to my distinctive style.

I show my work in several galleries and shops around the Big Island. I’ve been in many shows in Hilo and Kona, and I’m part of the yearly SOKO Studio Tour (held as an online auction instead for the 2020/2021 season). I’m also a member of the West Hawaii Plein Air Painters.

My studio is near the Coffee Shack, just south of mile marker 108 at the pullout on the mauka (uphill) side. I’m usually available for commissions or portraits. Studio visits are welcome by appointment.

 

Where to see my work:

Captain Cook, Hawai'i

SOKO
South Kona Artists Collective