Mark Oatney
While working as a wildlife biologist, I realized that I wanted to focus more directly on my real reward for being outside: the beauty of nature. A few years after I started shooting in earnest, I began working with National Geographic star Frans Lanting. Frans introduced me to the photo business world and inspired me to maintain high standards for the quality, originality, and purpose of my work. In subsequent years photography has sent me wandering in West African Mali, India, Europe, and throughout North America.
I've been lucky to have my "unique" work praised by some of the world's most prestigious photography magazines (click here to read the profiles), and published in National Geographic and on hundreds of book and magazine covers around the world.
In recent years, I've expanded my pursuits to other art media, songwriting, teaching, and, above all, dadding. I've dabbled in teaching for seventeen years, but am now fully immersed in my third year as a K-8 art teacher for Mendocino Unified School District. I consider the act of teaching to be art itself, and am constantly refreshed by the creative brilliance and sincerity of my students. Children are by nature innovative; they've not yet settled into the habits most adults either fear ("ruts") or praise ("style").
To paraphrase Van Gogh, art is a conversation between the generations. College mentors, especially Don Weygandt and Norman Locks, showed me that art teachers are privileged to get to carry this conversation forward. Plus, it's a great pleasure to have an excuse to focus more on other people's art than marketing my own.
For more detailed biographical information, please read the profile by Livermore's Independent newspaper by clicking here.
"Art Outside" 2nd Grade LVCS Field Trip
(c) 2006 Doug Jorgenson
The Independent Newspaper & Magazine
(c) 2006 Doug Jorgenson
The Independent Newspaper & Magazine
