Mark Sulin

Artist Statement

I like chickens, and my artwork is all about them. I grew up on a farm, and I took care of the chickens in the coup. The chickens cackled all day and the roosters were loud, so we had to get rid of most of them when I was 8 or 9, but I got to keep 2 hens and a rooster. I named the rooster Gary and the two hens Mary and Jessie. I sold the eggs to my neighbors and I was proud to take care of my chickens.

I’ve enjoyed making art since childhood and have thought about being an artist. I remember drawing our family's dog and cat as a young boy. Then I took an art class at school and discovered that I like to paint. Now that I am 50 years old I create all different types of art at Fine Line Studios. I enjoy using colored pencils, markers, crayons, pastels, ink pens, acrylics, and watercolors to create my chickens. I also like to sew - I've made pillow cases, purses, a back pack, stuffed chicken pillows, and I am currently practicing my embroidery skills by stitching a chicken with colorful threads. I have also been sculpting with clay and making ceramic chickens! Some of my drawings have been screen-printed on t-shirts and I really like people wearing my artwork. It makes me happy to finish a piece of artwork, and even happier when I sell my work!

I am a talkative, friendly, and social person. All of the people at FLS are my friends and I really like coming here. My goal as an artist is for people to appreciate chickens! My work has been exhibited in various art galleries around St. Louis, including: Soulard Art Gallery, Foundry Art Centre, and St. Louis Artists' Guild. I want to sell more of my work, continue to showcase my work in art galleries, and to see more people wear t-shirts with my chicken prints on them.

I love doing my artwork. I love doing my artwork. I love doing my artwork.