Mark Shasha facts for kids
Mark Shasha (born in 1961) is an American artist who creates beautiful paintings. He is also a talented author, an illustrator who draws pictures for books, and an educator who teaches others. Mark Shasha often paints familiar things, and his ideas usually come from the interesting textures and special light found along the New England coast. This is where he lives and works.
Mark Shasha studied art at the famous Rhode Island School of Design. He earned his art degree there in 1983. For over thirty years, his artwork has been shown in museums, art galleries, and many different publications. His paintings have been part of more than 50 important art shows. These shows have taken place in many locations, from Hollywood, California, to the Lyman Allyn Art Museum in Connecticut, and the Society of Illustrators in New York City.
Mark Shasha's Children's Books
Mark Shasha started his art career as a writer and illustrator. He worked for newspapers like The Boston Phoenix and the Boston Globe, along with other publications. His very first book for children was a classic called Night of the Moonjellies. It was published by Simon & Schuster in 1992. This story was inspired by his own childhood memories. He remembered working at his family's hot dog stand by the sea in New London, Connecticut, back in the early 1970s.
The book Night of the Moonjellies tells a heartwarming story. It shows a special bond between a boy and his grandmother. You'll also meet many other characters who are busy working at the fast-food stand. The story also features a unique sea creature called a moonjelly. This animal is a type of Ctenophore (pronounced 'tee ne for'). Moonjellies live in the North Atlantic Ocean and can glow in the dark! This is called bioluminescence, which means they make their own light.
Another book by Mark Shasha is The Hall of Beasts, published in 1994. This book, also from Simon & Schuster, tells an unusual story. It's about a mysterious painting found in an old, empty inn near the sea. However, this book was not as popular as Night of the Moonjellies.
Who Inspired Mark Shasha?
Many famous artists influenced Mark Shasha's work. These are some of the artists he looked up to:
