Beacon Of Safety & Peace by Mark Rusic

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ARTIST NOTES: Artwork Title: Beacon of Safety & Peace by Mark Rusic

This is an acrylic work with a some strong impasto details, with quite a lot of vivid, textured brush strokes creating some eye-catching appeal.

I was inspired by the striking, majestic light house at Cape Otway, Victoria. Its beautiful calm and serenity against the rugged coastline is breath taking. The light house stands tall, and endures as a beacon of strength, impervious to the might of every storm.

The painting shows wind-swept clouds, their movement symbolising the possibility of stormy weather brewing.

I'm reminded of stormy conditions we are all facing in life. Things like the tragic events and war unfolding in the middle east presently, heightened inflation pressures locally, and with the blatant crime spree arising nationally, especially among youths. Surely, we need peace and safety like never before!?

We do well as parents, community leaders and business people to take personal responsibility, with love, compassion, courage, integrity and optimism, to stand firm in these difficult times, to be that beacon of safety and peace for our family, and for those around us.

So, I have crafted this painting to fill your home and heart with peace, to be that light house. As you see that light house, you see whom you are meant to be.

However, maybe you don't feel up to this challenge? Have you felt alarmed, angry and frustrated by others, or possibly want to shut down, feeling under qualified, having made too many past mistakes in life, to speak out. Or perhaps you feel tired and overwhelmed by many life pressures? Or maybe you feel depressed and fearful, stymied by what you see and hear on the news, or what you have experienced personally

Because of that you say inside, how can I ever be that leader or a tower of strength for others?

Like everyone, sometimes I feel that way too.

To that I say, enter and stand above in the light house, earth below, think to redeem the situation, arise and fight in the spirit. In a peculiar way, there is a certain parallel with the Super Mario Bros movie.

So fight, but also by relaxing as you fight. Where do you start? You are drawn the light house, it calls you. Look at the painting. It invites you to start that journey to the light house personally.

Put off your fears as you follow the fence lining in the painting, all the way to the entrance.

(Note: The path looks nothing like it does on location at Cape Otway. I improvised to paint it, after I saw it in a vision. See the reference photo and creative process at https://www.iconiccolours.com/about)

So again, why this painting? We can all struggle to take responsibility, we can battle with negative thoughts. There can be a storm rages inside.

To beat that it certainly involves positive self talk.

On that note, I recently understood a songs background titled, Phycho killer, by Talking Heads. I like the tune, and it turns out that it made it into the top 500 rock and roll songs of all time, in their hall of fame, which interested me.

The lyrics say: I can't seem to face up to the facts. I'm tense and nervous and I can't relax. I can't sleep 'cause my bed's on fire. Don't touch me, I'm a real live wire. Psycho Killer. Qu'est-ce que c'est? This tail-end, french portion, translated means literally, what is it?

In context, its the actual serial killers thought life, his inner voice, self talk and cry: What is it?...Why do I do what do; why am I a live wire? Is it better to run away...from myself; which further words from the song suggest.

In other words, why the unrest inside sometimes, why the storm in my heart, that drives people to do wrong compulsively, to lash out, hold deep grudges, that leads to exercising gross errors of judgement?

And I feel it need not necessarily be doing harm physically, as this song recalls the thug in town, but perhaps it could be hurting others with misguided speech.

The song finishes, in the french language again, that the killers actual motivation to wreak havoc is that they are on their way to glory; to stand out, to be made popular or notorious by their crimes.

How sad and untrue, doing harm is not a way to glory. Instead, its the way to scorn, contempt and prison.

I say to that, are things getting murky, then go to the light house and find that peace from heaven above and put an end to those thought patterns and actions, which only lead to more pain and regret.

Or again, as Taylor Swift song lyrics say, haters will hate, hate, hate, so shake it off.

In other words, go to the top of the light house and let the breeze blow it off, sooth your heart, put out the smouldering fire and anger within!

Note: This painting seeks to empower that soothing, providing a peace-safety mood too. It has some tinges of pink and green in the dominant white clouds, with some more reddish pink lines against the fence posts and the greens, adding impetus to the vibration and movement of the artwork overall, to amplify that mood.

Despite the potential for storms, the pink also symbolically speaks of a better day tomorrow; you recall the saying, red at night, a sailors delight.

Can I conclude by saying, why am I rambling on? I feel art is meant to be powerful. There can be more to it than pure aesthetics, which I feel is vital. However, for me even surrealist art, while it may even be grotesque in appearance, is meant to speak to you. It ideally is a tonic, a thought pill of relief.

I love this quote from Henri Matisse that reinforces this purpose of art: What I dream of is an art of balance, of purity and serenity, devoid of troubling or depressing subject-matter, an art which could be for every mental worker, for the businessman as well as the man of letters, for example, a soothing, calming influence on the mind, something like a good armchair which provides relaxation from physical fatigue.

So anyway, I hope you can enjoy this painting and myself, the artist behind it, now you know my psyche a little better!

And take note, all monies given to purchase my paintings, besides helping me look after my family, allow me to visit remote Aboriginal communities as a speaker, and also to support community development to meet basic needs and for job creation, all for the glory of God.

Thanks for hearing me and drop a line if you like.

Actually, my heart is to be that light house myself. Isaiah the prophet, from the bible, wrote about it in Isaiah chapter 32, verses 1-2, and Matthew chapter 5, verses 14 -16 states the possibility. John chapter 8, verse 12 highlights the source for all to do so. Take care.

DIMENSIONS (Height - 91.50 cm X Width - 61.00 cm )
MEDIUM ON BASE Acrylic on Paper
GENRE Contemporary
REGISTERED NRN # 000-39680-0158-01
COPYRIGHT © Mark Rusic
PRIZES AND AWARDS No Awards
STATUS
View At Home

 
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Artist: Mark Rusic


ARTIST BIO

BIO including ARTIST STATEMENT

For a greater artist profile, more artwork, and examples of Marks creative process, see his website: https://www.iconiccolours.com/about

I seek to paint absolutely beautiful, radiant, eye-catching art works that personify my heart for people, and a portray a living voice of hope, encouragement, meaning, positivity, healing and purpose, that invite contemplation, and inspire people in their self-worth, purpose and dreams.

My paintings are often accompanied by poems I compose, that help explain the symbolism or purpose of the work.  And due to my own journey of finding emotional healing, has helped me bring healing to others though my art. I recall distinctly, how this become so real to me, when I sold my first collection of my work to someone in the blues, who remarked, "I need the colours and form of your paintings to help me to overcome my depression." Since that time I have often received many comments about my arts beauty and ability to cause a calming and soothing affect, producing happiness and joy, which people readily feel and testify to, from all over the world. Here are just a few sample testimonials, I have hundreds:

Love the colours. Make Melbourne look so happy. (Italy)

So natural and colourful. Makes me feel lightful. (Taiwan)

Love the colours and the unusualness, fantastic (Melbourne)

The Perfect present...Gorgeous, happy pictures. Congratulations (Perth)

Very beautiful (Jakarta)

Really unique colours and originality is exciting (South Africa)

Mark Rusic's colour palette will bring the Australian sun to any place on earth (New York)

I love the vibrant colours. They evoke a sort of calm happiness. (Canada)

Gorgeous work. The colour and vibrancy of your work is so beautful! (Australia, New Castle)

Thank you, pure joy (New York)

I think your paintings are astoundingly beautiful. (Germany)

Lovely work. These will brighten up my home (Vietnam)

So very refreshing (Vienna)

Your pictures are amazing (Brazil)

The artwork is stunning. I love the uniqueness...you have something special to share with us all. (Sydney)

I am a self taught artist with a background in engineering, and as a pastor-life coach for most of my life, together with over 20 years experience as an artist. There was a consistent trail of affirmation and accreditation due to my artistic talent from a young age, which was of not of the greatest surprise due to my fathers background as an architect and a prolific artist, who continues to this day at 90 years of age. Sales of my art to clients world wide, became common place, when my wife started a weekly stall in Queen Victoria market. I kept a list of literally hundreds of buyer testimonials from every continent(few samples shown above), all consistenly highlighting the love of the colours I used and unique form of the paintings, and often to people that have said, "I never bought art or never thought to buy it prior to meeting you Mark", which greatly catalysed my passion. I feel my best years are ahead as an artist and I am presently experiencing a resurgence of passion, and with more time to focus now.

Due to the popularity of my art and numerous sales, especially about a decade ago, it enabled me become the author of Iconic Melbourne and Iconic Animals of Australia, a collection of about 20 paintings of Melbourne, and associated poems and photography, which have been selling in leading book retailers, nationally, since 2014 and 2017 respectively.  That includes selling in places like Dymocks, Robinsons etc...and includes giftware related shops, like Spoilt giftwares, the Melbourne zoo retail shop, The Melbourne Museum retail show, Sydney Opera House Shop, at main airports, and  some art suppliers like Seniours Art supplies, cbd, and out of the way places like st.Pauls Cathedral shop @Flinders st, Melbourne.

One of my highlights was that 300 copies of Mark's Iconic Melbourne book were received as a gift book to G20 world delegates in 2014, via the Melbourne Museum.

See booktopia.com.au to view or purchase my books.

My art has sold in some of these commercial places mentioned also, including The Melbourne Museum for several years, where it was profiled all around the main retail store, with my books and paintings for sale, in both front and rear windows for around 6 months, previously.

I have also had a lot of gallery experience, though Ive prioritized selling my art direct online, for most of my career.

I have always been a trail blazer; thats what people say about me. I love a challenge. Im currently working on preparing two exhibits, one related to Indigenous Australians. I have a dream that one day these exhibits can be show cased in the main state galleries, including the NGV international, and maybe MoMA in New York etc..., and also appear for example, in the hallowed halls of parliament both local and abroad, not for prestige sake, but to make a statement and a difference in lives.

My favourite art medium is oils, working in impasto, with thickly textured brush strokes that highlight the works genesis, though I readily work in acylic and water colours too. Many people often comment that my work appears Van Gogh like.  Truth be told, Van Gogh has been by far the dominant influence in my art. This is so, even to the point that I also offer 'Paint like Van Gogh,' art workshops, which have proved to be very popular over the years.

I also do author talks, and have also done motivational speaking, related to my books and their art, in a large variety of organisations, for over a decade.

I enjoy doing commissioned works, receiving details about a client's iconic moments, places, desired features, or themes, whether for commercial or home applications. I'm higly adaptable, and enjoy painting all subject matters including still life, landscape, portaiture, nature and semi abstract-surrealism, to form tailored art works:

  • Art that can boldy and brightly light up and mood-shift, to transform living and office spaces,
  • Art to provide a featured focal and talking point at the dinner table,
  • Art to give a means to power up people's passion and visualise their vision,
  • Art that makes a way to mark people's memories and
  • Art with the use of symbolism and colour help produce telling paintings that teach defining, timely and trend-setting truths, concepts and even mysteries.

I also continue to draw inspiration from all artists, especially the masters, and even from Christ, the greatest artist himself; I love this quote by Van Gogh himself, who wrote of Christ to artist, Emil Bernard, his contemporary, in June 1888:

“Christ alone, of all the philosophers, magicians, etc., has affirmed eternal life as the most important certainty, the infinity of time, the futility of death, the necessity and purpose of serenity and devotion. He lived serenely, as an artist greater than all other artists, scorning marble and clay and paint, working in the living flesh. In other words, this peerless artist, scarcely conceivable with the blunt instrument of our modern, nervous and obtuse brains, made neither statues nor paintings nor books. He maintained in no uncertain terms that he made…living men, immortals.”


View works by Mark Rusic in Knox Art Show 2025