n 2008, Mark was voted into the prestigous Art Renewal Center's Living Masters group as a "Living Artist". Now at ARC (Artrenewal.org), Mark is honored to be found among an elite group of some of the finest and most well known oil painters in the world.

The following is an excerpt from ARC's home page at ArtRenewal.org explaining what they are about:

"ARC is the Eye of the Storm, at the core, hub and center of a major cultural shift in the art world. With a growing body of experts, we are setting standards to become ARC Approved™ for artists, art schools, systems of training, museum exhibitions and historical scholarship, to bring guidance, direction, goals and reality to an art establishment that has been sailing rudderless for nearly a hundred years.

Additionally, the Art Renewal Center is a non-profit educational organization committed to reviving standards of craftsmanship and excellence. Only by gaining a full command of the skills of the past masters can we create the masters of tomorrow. This is a step forward for our culture. Experimentation and creativity can only succeed and prosper when built on a solid foundation of past accomplishments, with the tools which empower artists to realize their visions".



Below is a copy of a letter written by Fred Ross (CEO of ARC) regarding Mark's work.

"Mark's work seems to be advancing quickly, when I look at your site I see a
major difference between the recent work and that from a couple of years
ago.

Congratulations Mark and Laurel and welcome to what is hopefully becoming
the new center of the art world".

Art Renewal Center, 100 Markley Street, Port
Reading NJ 07064 www.artrenewal.org ..................................a few
year away perhaps. :~)

Best wishes,

Fred Ross
CEO
Allied Old English Inc.
Chairman,
Art Renewal Center