Mark Zieff

I create artistically realistic, still life drawings composed of commonplace man-made objects arranged to form a narrative.

I’ve always been interested in older, everyday household objects – the well-used, worn and imperfect. I use my artwork to look for meaning in the physical world through the things people interact with. As artifacts of human activity, objects hold symbolic meaning connected to history, culture, beliefs and the human experience. When placed within a context of a still life composition, the objects can take on a more complex meaning that allows me to examine a wide variety of emotions and ideas.

I strive for intimacy through detail and simplicity of materials, color and composition. I love working with charcoal, colored pencils and simple watercolor washes. Each of my still life’s consist of a focal object and secondary, supporting objects that help clarify and strengthen an emerging story. The final composition is traditionally lit to reveal form and character and rendered with charcoal and colored pencils on toned paper. The paper sets the middle tone and unifies the piece while the pencils help me achieve great detail as well add structure, tone, volume and richness to the drawing.

Mark Zieff holds a degree in Industrial Design from Syracuse University and has practiced as an industrial designer, product innovator and consumer products marketer. He has created award winning products for some of the world’s most iconic consumer product brands including Disney, Tupperware, Nerf and Monopoly.

As both a designer and artist, Mark has always been fascinated with man-made objects and uses his artwork to explore the relationships between object and user; both the physical and emotional connection we have with inanimate objects. His drawings are characterized by a high level of detail, soft tonal transitions and dramatically lit compositions.

He draws inspiration from the work of Albrecht Dürer, Edgar Degas, Jim Dine and Claudio Bravo. His work has been selected by juries for regional and national competitions and is regularly seen in museums, universities and galleries.

Teaching at Concord Art in 2026:
Still-Life Drawing: Finding the Right Tone