Mark Gilstrap is an artist who lives and works in Long Beach, California.

Design is the impetus to Mark's creative process; considerations about composition, form, and color are paramount. These drawings and paintings explore ideas like "sisterhood", life’s nuances, and inspirations from black culture.

Mark has taught art and art history in Pomona California, Seattle, and eastern Washington State.

Artist Statement

I admire that group of artists who will change their style, their materials, to capture the right look for a particular work of art. It’s kind of my nature to be “all over the place” in that way also… the challenge can be to make a piece fit in its shell.

I often like to explore ideas in a series of drawings or paintings. Even though they end up realistic, when I start a new piece, it’s all about design. I scribble out arrangements (compositions), usually drawing loose, simple forms, distorting all the way, to exaggerate or underplay something.

I like to make thoughtful art, and I also like to make fun paintings. I’m inspired by ideas I can contemplate.

I usually start with a spark of an idea, which triggers some images that I work through with sketches.