"When I think a piece is finished, I let is sit for a couple of days without peeking at it, then I give it another look to see if I can take it further. But most times, I edit it down to simplify the piece...Less is more."

"Making the Zodiac 'cute' was a tough but fun project," he says. "With all those horned animals and crustacea, it took a few tries to make them sweet and contemporary." Mark is an Aquarius, the water bearer, which he interpreted as a bear sitting in a bucket of water. "Like most Aquarians, I can see the future."