mark hoffmann by melissa jeswald


Not long ago, seeing an art studio filled with computers instead of easels would have seemed ridiculous. Today, Montserrat has a thriving Department of Animation and Interactive Media — all computers, no easels — which is drawing attention, and students.


The newest instructor, Asst. Prof. Mark Hoffmann, has found his hybrid of skills well-suited for the work. A successful illustrator, he has a passion for the computerized arts as well. "Young people today have grown up with so much animated programming. That’s why so many today want to do animation, because it’s been a big part of their lives."


"Years ago, when a cartoon was on; you watched a single one; there was no cartoon channel or DVD. Most cartoon animators were employed by big studios, like Disney or Warner Brothers, so there were relatively few jobs.” he said. "Considering cable has whole channels devoted to cartoons; and with the expanding universe of video games, animated films and the internet, career opportunities for animators are growing. An animation career used to be a far-fetched proposition; now I can name you five or six companies doing animation in Boston alone."


The moving image aside, Mark confesses, "what’s so odd for me is that I’m so attached to the computer for animation, but for my illustrative career, I don’t like the computer: I’d rather paint. I can paint an image faster than I can make it digitally."


Hoffmann discovered his love of art beginning with a set of acrylic paints he had as a child in Minnesota. His parents were not artists, and while they encouraged him, they never saw him growing up to be an


"artist" as a profession; it simply didn’t seem to be a career choice. Through talent, perseverance and the encouragement of his art teacher, though, he went on to the Rhode Island School of Design (BFA) and UMass Dartmouth (MFA) and launched his own successful entrepreneurial career combining illustration, animation and design into his art and his teaching. l


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