Marc Anderson

Marc was born and raised in central Wisconsin in the Rockwellian town of Wild Rose. He has three brothers and much to his mother’s chagrin, no sisters. She wanted the Von Trapp Family, but what she got was closer to a cheesy barbershop quartet with excessive body odor. Nevertheless Marc’s parents were abundantly supportive of his and his brothers’ endeavors, creative or otherwise.

Marc began working as a professional artist while studying illustration at the University of Wisconsin-Stout—first as a caricature artist at a local amusement park and eventually as a freelance illustrator for a variety of clients and publications. While the caricature and illustration work were a far cry from the fine art world, they proved an invaluable jumping off point for Marc’s career as an artist. The drawing skills and quick decision making required in those fields would become foundational as he waded into fine art painting.

Continuing down this career path for several years, Marc discovered the mysterious world of plein air painting. While Marc loved the comfort and convenience of his studio, along with the abundance of distracting Youtube videos that could be found there, nothing could compete with this newfound passion. Big-eared, goofy faces and demanding art directors were quickly replaced with painterly depictions of the Wisconsin landscape. Notwithstanding, the Wisconsin winters would once again drive Marc back into the studio, where he would hibernate for several months, only emerging for rations of cheese and lutefisk.

While Marc’s love of the landscape is evident in his work, a keen observer will see his endeavor to capture authentic light and how it brings life to each piece. This dedication to craft hasn’t gone unnoticed—in 2021, Marc was included in the “Top 10 Artists to Collect Now” special feature in Plein Air Magazine. His work has also garnered awards from prestigious shows around the country including a Gold Medal Award from the Oil Painters of America Easter Regional Exhibition as well as the Dorothy Driehaus Mellin Fellowship and Artist Choice Award at the OPA National Exhibition.

Marc currently resides in beautiful Door County, WI with his wife Anna and their cat/studio assistant, Frankie.