Now based on the West Coast, he sent his imagination into a future that may never arrive, one where tiki meets science fiction and there are jetpacks and martini glasses for everyone. Every aspect of his art is carefully computer drawn and then meticulously painted in acrylic layers, to give them a sharp, print-like synthetic quality.
Mark has worked in magazine design for over 15 years as a designer and illustrator. Today he is one of three creative directors for Vancouver's Georgia Straight newspaper. His commercial clients include IKEA, Walgreens, the Sierra Club, and Virgin. He continues to illustrate for magazines worldwide and paints for galleries across North America. His paintings are a natural transition from his editorial illustrations, which are still computer constructed.
Those paintings grew out of Mark's love of underground comics, space-age record jackets, scooter culture, and Moog music. "I've always been interested in the graphic arts of the 50s and 60s. They always used the best colours and lines. I love the work of Gene Deitch, Mary Blair, BC Binning, and Jim Flora."
SELECT CLIENTS
The Georgia Straight, The Globe & Mail, Circle Productions, The Sierra Club, Wired, Scoot Quarterly, IKEA, Virgin, Home Maker Magazine, Vancouver Magazine, BC Business, Random House, Intrawest, Motor Trend Classic, AQ Magazine, OC Weekly, Mint Records, DDB Chicago, Walgreens, Guest Life, Wasserman, Electronic Arts.
SELECT GALLERIES
La Luz de Jesus Gallery, MModern Gallery, Roq la Rue, DC Gallery, DvA Gallery, Swizzle, Lunar Boy Gallery, Moon Base, Rotofugi, The Shooting Gallery,
OTHER LINKS
AVAILABLE WORK
Paintings
Illustration
Prints
Altpick
Mark Atomos Pilon was born under the Northern Lights, in Canada's mysterious north. Perhaps it's a childhood dwarfed by the aurora borealis that made him seek out his alias. After graduating from art school, Mark was researching an art project when he stumbled across a Walt Disney book called "Our Friend the ATOM". The Greek name Atomos leapt out at him. "It means indivisible, or the smallest possible object," Mark explains. "Mystery and science are a good working combination."
His most recent pieces reflect a post-pop conviction with an inkling of surrealism that casts aside logic to reveal slices of modern life projected from dark holes into a dreamy multicolored world. It's a style that can be recognized in an instant, but will stay with you for a lifetime. However, it's not for everyone - if you're looking for institutional, naturalistic art, keep on walking. "I have a lot of people tell me their kids can paint better than me," Pilon says with a laugh. "I'm okay with that."
In 2006, Mark received the Best Illustration Feature award for "Running on Empty" at the Western Magazine Awards.
Mark's work is fast and clean, delivered on time. He can also give you the real thing: hand-painted in acrylic and delivered to your door. Private commissions are accepted. If you have an idea for a painting, send him a note.