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MARK PARISI
When Mark was born on a New England evening in 1961, the attending
physician supposedly mentioned seeing doodles on the uterus wall,
but this remains unconfirmed.
After many odd jobs and a graphic design degree from Salem State
College, Mark felt he had two marketable skills: cartooning and
grocery bagging. He decided to choose cartooning, even though
it didn't pay as well. With influences ranging from Charles
Schulz, MAD
Magazine and, more obviously, Gary
Larson, he started self-syndicating his off the mark
comic panel in 1987. And, strangely enough, his wife encouraged
him.
off the mark joined United
Media, in 2002. off the mark has twice been nominated
for Best Newspaper Comic Panel by The National Cartoonists Society
and for Best Humor Book by The Independent Publisher's Association.
Mark's cartoons can also be found on greeting
cards, T-shirts,
mugs and more, calendars,
magazines, newsletters, books,
and some other weird stuff. Clients have included: Del Monte,
the US Military (anti-binge drinking campaign), Billboard
Magazine, Glamour Magazine, The National Enquirer, Recycled
Paper Greetings, Dixie Chicks and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
His wife, Lynn, works as his business partner and their daughter
contributes with inspiration (check out 57 examples of
her art here).
... as do three cats and one dog.
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Other quasi-interesting facts:
Mark and friend Richard Walsh made a music
video in the 80s for the song "Bass Rocks"
by Boston's Willie Alexander. It appeared on MTV's Basement Tapes.
The
first off the mark cartoon was published in 1987
Off the mark first went from weekly
to daily in 1991
The first
off the mark color Sunday was published in 1995
The first drawing he ever
had published was in the Boston Herald Advertiser when
he was 11 ... one of those what-can-you-make-out-of-this-doodle?
type things.
First record
I purchased: "Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey"
First
very, truly favorite song: "Ballroom Blitz"
First
concert I attended: Frank Zappa
First car: Chrysler
Cordoba (Corinthian leather)
First and only
"D": In algebra (thanks a lot, Mr. McPhee)
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This was drawn by a caricaturist at the San Diego
Zoo. It probably looks more like me than the photo.
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