resume
Mark Eric Elton is an author, illustrator, puzzle-master, and multimedia artist who lives and works in Moorhead, Minn. Professional experience includes project management, puzzle design, concept design, art direction, and consultancy for publication in film and web.
Outside of art, Mark likes to challenge himself in any way possible, and participates in various foot races, inline skate marathons, obstacle courses, novel writing, solving puzzles, and gallery shows.
Skills:
- Inventive Multimedia, Puzzle, and Game Design.
- Accomplished artist in both 2D and 3D media, including but not limited to:
- Illustration
- Digital Painting
- Sculpture
- Creative Writing
- Graphic Design
- Leadership ability to successfully manage an extraordinary team of employees and coworkers.
- Creative problem-solver with a dedication towards functional solutions.
- Productive, dependable, goal-oriented worker with ability to pick up new skills as needed.
- Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Access, HTML, CSS, Visual Basic, and Construct 2.
Employment History:
- Self-Employed as Illustrator and Creative Consultant – 2007 to Present
- Assisting clients in producing necessary content for various projects. Tasks included writing, illustration, and design.
- Puzzle-Master for Puzzled Escape Rooms – 2017 to 2021
- Conception, design, and production of puzzles for marketing and promotional efforts. Maintenance and supervision for Escape Rooms.
- Project Manager – Web Content, Concordia Language Villages – 2010 to 2015
- Manage employees, write and edit content for web and print, manage lists of contacts and prospects, manage various publications and print pieces, manage campaigns, manage Facebook ads, other tasks as needed.
- Supervisor for the Fargo Theatre – 2009 to 2010
- Supervised employees, designed merchandise, managed registers and deposits, built and tore down prints, managed customer relations.
Museum & Gallery Shows
- Art Ghoullery IV: The Fantastic & Frightening as Curator, Rourke Art Museum, October 2021
- Art Ghoullery III: The Long Masquerade as Curator, Rourke Art Museum, October 2020
- ArtWORKS, Aptitude, March 2020 – September 2020
- Art Ghoullery II: Black Cats & Vampire Bats as Curator, Rourke Art Museum, October 2019
- ArtWORKS, Office Sign Company, July 2019 – October 2019
- ArtWORKS, Vetter Dental, April 2019 – July 2019
- Mini-Menagerie, Optix Gallery, November 2018 – February 2019
- The Art Ghoullery as Curator, Rourke Art Museum, October 2018
- Menagerie II, The Rourke Art Museum, July 2018
- Menagerie, The Rourke Art Museum, March 2016
- Holiday Spirits, Franklin Arts Center Resident Artists Gallery, December 2014
- Paper (Ex)Change, Echo Arts, May 2013
- Between the Lines, Altered Esthetics, March 2012
Conventions & Group Shows
- Anime Fargo: Digital Breakdown, September 2019
- 2D Con, August 2019
- CONvergence, July 2019
- The Wonderful Works of Whimsy, The Spirit Room, February – April 2019 – July 2019
- APT Holiday Market, December 2018 – January 2019
- Holiday Market, The Rourke Art Museum, December 2018
- ValleyCon 44, October 2018
- Anime Fargo: Galactic Adventures, September 2018
- 2D Con, August 2018
- CONvergence, July 2018
- CoreCon X: Return of the Heroes, Revenge of the Villians, May 2018
- VGM Con, March 2018
- FM ComiCon, February 2018
- APT Holiday Market, December 2017 – January 2018
- Holiday Market, The Rourke Art Museum, December 2017
- ValleyCon 43, October 2017
- MetaCon, September 2017
- Anime Fargo: Festival of Spirits, August 2017
- MN PokeCon (Featured Artist), August 2017
- CoreCon IX: Monsters vs. Mechs, June 2017
- FM ComiCon, February 2017
- Studio Ghibli @ The Guild, Gallery at the Guild, December 2016
- Holiday Market, The Rourke Art Museum, December 2016
- MN PokeCon, October 2016
- ValleyCon 42, October 2016
- MSP Fall Comicon, October 2016
- Anime Fargo: Kawaii Invasion, September 2016
- KW Super Smash Bros. Gallery, The Adventurer’s Guild, July 2016
- 57th Midwestern, June 2016
- CoreCon VIII: On Ancient Seas, June 2016
- Printmaker’s Sale at the Rourke, May 2016
Press & Publication:
- “Moorhead museum delivers ghostly gasps at Art Ghoullery IV” by Lonna Whiting, 25 Oct, 2021
- “Art Ghoullery Returns For 3rd Year Of Spooky Art” by Adam Ladwig, KVRR, 30 Oct, 2020
- “Rourke offers tricks and treats with Halloween-themed show”, by John Lamb, The Forum, 20 Oct, 2020
- “Masquerade at the Art Ghoullery”, by Adam Ladwig, KVRR, 25 Oct, 2019
- “The Witching Hour” as seen in “Halloween Shimmers in the Red River Valley” by Davin Wait, 23 Oct, 2019
- “Masquerade at the Art Ghoullery” by Jill Finkelson, 23 Oct, 2019
- “The Arts Partnership to Host Chalkfest” by Chris Larson AM 1100 The Flag, 29 Sept, 2019
- “Rourke Art Museum hosts masquerade reception for Art Ghoullery exhibit Friday” by Chelsey Ewen, The Arts Partnership, 25 Oct, 2018
- “Cozy up to these fun fall events” by John Lamb, The Forum, 25 Oct, 2018
- “‘Art Ghoullery’ Brings Out All the Halloween Stops this Season” by Danielle Church, KVRR, 7 Oct, 2018
- “Local Artist Puts Spotlight on Red River Zoo Animals in New Exhibit” by Danielle Church, KVRR, 1 July, 2018
- “Digital Painter Mark Elton Opens Sequel Exhibit Of Animal Portraits At The Rourke” by Chelsea Ewen, 28 June, 2018
- ‘Zoo-Inspired Art With Artist Mark Elton” (Television Interview) by Adam Ladwig, KVRR, 26 June, 2018
- “Pumpkin” as seen in “Episode VIII: The Return of Peel + Stick” by Taylor Klimek, 6 June, 2018
- “Art is all over Fargo-Moorhead this weekend with…an interesting look at unseen animals…” by John Lamb, 31 May, 2018
- Uncredited Illustration as seen in “Film Lover’s Paradise: Fargo Film Festival 2018” by Brittney Goodman, 14 March, 2018
- “FFF18 Debuts Program Cover Art by Mark Elton”, Fargo Film Festival, 16 Jan. 2018
- “Skeleton Parade” as seen in “It’s Not Easy Being Green” by Sabrina Hornung, High Plains Reader, 25 Oct. 2017
- “Beyond the Book #5” (Television Interview) with Elizabeth Riply, QCTV, 20 Sept. 2017 (Interview starts at 14:20)
- “Local Artist’s New Picture Book Highlights Lesser-Known Animals” (Television Interview) by Adam Ladwig, KVRR, 16 June, 2017
- “Trick or Treaters” as seen in “Trumpeteers.” by John Strand, High Plains Reader, 27 Oct. 2016
- “A Menagerie of Art” (Interview & Illustration) by Sabrina Hornung, High Plains Reader, 3 Mar. 2016
Freelance Experience:
- Illustration + Character Design
- Mold-making + Casting
- Multimedia Design
- Game Design + Playtesting
- Sculpture
- Logo + Prop Design for short film A Chicken Named Harry
- Art Director for short film Quantum Connection
- Art Direction for short film Chronos
- Art Director for short film Aphasia
Education:
- Associates Degree in Computer Programming, MSCTC, 2017
- Specialization Certificate in Game Design: Art and Concepts, by California Institute of the Arts, 2016
- Certificate in Character Design for Video Games by California Institute of the Arts, 2016
- Certificate in World Design for Video Games by California Institute of the Arts, 2016
- Certificate in Story and Narrative Development for Video Games by California Institute of the Arts, 2016
- Certificate in Introduction to Game Design by California Institute of the Arts, 2016
- Certificate in Gamification from University of Pennsylvania, 2012
- BA in English Writing from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, 2007
- BA in Studio Art from Concordia College, Moorhead, MN, 2007