Mark Poss rides his bike across the Sewickley Bridge three to five times a week. Often, he stops and takes photos — both with his smartphone and with a Sony camera — because he is captivated by the views.
Those images become paintings.
“I love what I see when I ride across the Sewickley Bridge on the pedestrian walkway,” said the 64-year-old Sewickley resident, who has painted most of his life.
“We travel across bridges, but we don’t always take time to really see from the bridge.”
Poss has taken the time to really capture the views from all four seasons and at various times of the day.
His newest works are on display at Concept Art Gallery in Regent Square, where he has shown work for more than two decades.
Poss uses the medium safflower, which is mixed with oil paint, to create a slower-drying material.
Oil paints have a distinct smell, which appeals to Poss. Using large brushes, which hold more paint and are better for blending, Poss’s style is more abstract.
“I am more oriented to an emotion than details,” he said.
“I don’t want the painting to tell them everything. If you see everything, then what’s the use of imagination? I want my paintings to conjure up a feeling. It is about people’s reactions and emotions.”
Poss’s paintings have a beautiful, transcendent quality and an atmospheric appeal, said Alison Oehler, co-owner and curator of Concept Art Gallery.
“Mark’s use of the Pittsburgh environment creates a familiarity with the scene,” Oehler said.
“Mark puts his special spin on it. He brings people to places they recognize.”
Oehler said the next time you are stopped in traffic on the Sewickley Bridge, look around you.
“You can feel the familiarity,” Oehler said. “His paintings feel comforting and his art has the ability to transport you to everyday places.”
Poss said his work is about making those everyday places special.
Poss’s passion for painting began in high school in Texas, when he was trying to paint an iconic landscape of Dutch painter Rembrandt.
Two other favorite painters are George Inness and Gerhard Richter.
Poss’s mother, Martha Poss, recognized her son’s love of art and enrolled him in an art class.
His mom was a classically trained pianist and appreciated the arts, Mark Poss said.
He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied business and art history.
Poss spent his career as a designer, artist, photographer and videographer. He’s produced videos for corporations, nonprofits, government agencies and individuals throughout the U.S. and in Germany.
Family obligations sometimes held back his time to paint after marrying Maria Poss and raising their two children, Emil and Alexandra.
He retired five years ago and began painting more.
Poss paints at home.
He likes to paint what he sees, which is why the bike rides on the bridge inspired the scenes.
He paints on wood panels and rarely frames the artwork. He is semi-ambidextrous and, depending on the angle, he switches hands.
Most of his paintings are 16 x 20 and 30 x 40 in size.
He recalled his first painting of the Sewickley Bridge was when he was living in Ohio, but had visited Sewickley.
He has only painted images from the Sewickley Bridge, not other Pittsburgh bridges.
“The Sewickley Bridge is the only bridge I have such familiarity with,” he said.
“It has so many different nuances.”
Poss has never sat on the bridge and painted, but said he might this summer.
“When I came to Pittsburgh, I saw how beautiful this city is,” Poss said.
“The confluence of the rivers and the geography creates stunning views. I love Pittsburgh. This city has a soul.”
Details:markposs.com