Under the company name of MrMarsStudios, artist and illustrator Marshall ‘Mr. Mars’ Ballantyne creates fun and unique works. Originally from Houston, Texas, Marshall is an expert at airbrushing and sculpture. His work appears annually in gallery exhibitions and retail stores. He currently lives and works in Denver, Colorado, where he runs his own company called MrMarsStudios. Recently, he discussed his experiences as an artist:
Meagan Meehan (MM) of Entertainment Vine: How and when did you decide to become an artist?
MM: Growing up, which artists/types of art interested you?
MM: How did you get into comic-type art?
MB: My father. Hannah Barbera and Comic Books. He was always interested in these and naturally so was I. I remember him handing me down some crazy old comics from his father, back when Disney was making “Chip and Dale” comics…I remember some “Bonanza” being throw in there… I’m a child of the ‘90’s, we had so many good cartoons playing at that time from “Johnny Quest” to “Dexter’s Lab” to “Scooby Doo”, I soaked it all in.
MM: How did you go about getting your work shown publicly?
MM: Do you have a favorite piece? If so, which one and why?
MM: You also run your own studios called MrMarsStudios which is an LLC. Do you work with other artists?
MB: I do run my own LLC as well, MrMarsStudios began as legitimate way for me to make sure my art funds went back into my art haha. I love seeing my business card and seeing my CPA now, haha. As for working with other artists, I don’t employ any unless necessary. I employ work time to time if needed for extra sanding and casts and molds, as for other artists, it’s ALL me. Painting, invoicing, social media, it’s a struggle and sometimes and I always want more time, plus maybe some coffee. Haha just answering these questions took me almost three months…I do however do “Collabs” or collaborations, with many other artists, constantly seeking people out do better projects and pieces that will further my style and theirs. For instance, me and Shawn Wigs have a good upstanding relationship… I think we’re on series 5 of our collaborations… I never can remember haha, but they all seem to be a hit and we’re proud of our work. Coming Together allowed us to make such pieces as the “Mr. Krispy”.
MB: Legitimate tax write offs. Haha. Sike, I was always one that wanted to run his own company, so this just made more sense, plus I have to have everything as legal as possible, so I can continue in the future. Some real benefits are the fact that having this sustained on paper is a good reason to keep going after it every day. I hear from everyone that I motivate them with my work ethic. That’s a benefit enough, for now.
MM: To date, what has been the most rewarding experience involving your artwork and/or being an artist?
MM: What advice would you give to someone who is aspiring to become an artist?
MB: For someone who is aspiring to be a SUCCESSFUL artist, be you. Stick to your guns. You and your gut know alone. So many times I have sought help and guidance through situations I knew I would prevail because I was scared. Don’t let fear run your decisions. You can waste your whole life chasing a dream that isn’t yours and still fail. Plenty do it. Chase your dream. Whether you succeed or not is all up to you and your mindset.
MM: Are there any upcoming projects and/or events that you would like to mention?
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To learn more about Mr. Mars Studio visit his official website, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.