Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Estes.
Hi Mark, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
A strange intersection of my interests in microcontrollers, make culture, laser cutters and art led me to a place where I could make things that I found interesting. I made them for myself. I made a lot of single items and in some cases kept refining the work until it pleased me.
Many of these combine microcontrollers with LEDs and laser cut parts. Some use sound analysis as well. A friend introduced me to a gallery owner who liked some of my stuff and gave me great encouragement. About a year later, when Tracy Park opened her popup in Malibu Country Mart, she asked me to bring a few of my things. People liked some of them and thus, I accidentally became an artist.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I will admit that I have had an odd but easy path. In part because my goal at first was only to make things just to see if I could. I could not always get them to work but I did not expect success on the first try. I expected to learn and I did. Everything that came after that is upside. I still wonder what I am. There is some art to my designs. There is some science to my designs. There is some cold math to my designs.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I work in wood, leather, LEDs, microcontrollers, crystal oscillators, and ink. Much of my work combines function with form. I am best known for my word clocks which are available at the Tracy Park Gallery. I am most proud of my LED matrix work which continues to evolve. I am also very pleased with my basket designs which are featured in a pair of museum gift shops which cannot be named (closed now due to covid). I do not know if anything sets me apart from others. I cannot draw or paint at all. But I am what I am. A self-taught geek with a laser who writes code and likes pretty lights and has an eye for shape and form.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk is an odd thing. At different times in my life, it has meant very different things. I am probably a bit more risk adverse now that I was as a cub. Pain is an excellent teacher. From an art perspective, It felt like a risk to have my stuff in a gallery. I was not accustomed to being judged and did not really think of myself as worthy. But, I had a good mentor who gave me the strength to make it happen and it worked out. I have been lucky to find other mentors along the way. Life is good.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markcestes
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/lemuroid
Image Credits
Mark Estes
