LOCAL ARTIST PREPARING TO EMBRACE THE FUTURE & takes his passion for art along for the ride

                                                                                                                                                                                          By Carol Penton

    Mark Adams is well on his way to a successful career in whatever he chooses. He’s just that kind of guy. He’s confident, intelligent, and has a great social manner, but besides all that, Mark has a passion for art, and that’s often a difficult struggle when your only 17 and you live on Fogo Island.

    Mark is the exception to that rule, and aside from his studies, always finds time to sketch and paint. His topics can include, local homes, fishing stages, wharves, beaches or historic landmarks, as well as embracing a whole new form of his art calling it "True Colour." True Colour he explains is when you take a regular image and jazz it up with perhaps neon or lime green or even a hot pink. It enhances and illuminates the image allowing the eye to view it in a whole new way. A world of opportunities have already been opened for this young artist who will graduate this year and is perhaps Fogo Island Central Academy’s only student entrepreneur, and by far, the Islands youngest.

    He says he first realized that he had a flare for sketching a few years ago and worked on his creations, perfecting them to a degree whereby he found satisfaction. After building on his confidence, he began sharing his work with his family, friends, and locals within the community who encouraged him to take it to a newer height. Soon Mark’s work was selling and raising a few eyebrows along the way. In a matter of just a year, Mark’s work was being featured and sold at the Etheridges Point Seaside Festival, local stores and on his very own web site, which naturally, he created and designed himself. He says it was meeting New Brunswick Artist, Dale Carruthers that motivated him to dig further into his ideas and not be afraid to express himself through his art. As far as inspiration is concerned, Mark says he draws his ideas from just about anything, be it a visual image or just a floating thought.

    "I’m a bit shy when it comes to expressing myself verbally," he admits, " so I let my paintings do the talking. It’s never difficult to find things to sketch or paint" he adds, "and I have never felt limited because I live on Fogo Island." " While our Island is no doubt outspoken it it’s history, it remains simple and generous in terms of it’s people and that’s just the way things go." says Mark. Mark’s work was recently featured in March 2005 issue of The Downhomer Magazine and some of his prints can be found displayed and sold at The Downhomer Store in St. John’s. Mark is also working with the Joe Batt's Arm Wall Works Company, where the framing of his prints and originals are done. "I love the finished touches that they do there he says, it's great to see my work associated with something so well and wonderfully crafted."

    Many local artists will agree, that living on Fogo Island with a passion or talent that’s not considered an ‘everyday norm’ limits and stereotypes you, which can result in making a break- through very difficult. But Mark says that he’s not set on satisfying everyone, for that would be the impossible, adding, "Everybody is different, they act differently and think differently, it’s supposed to be that way. Often people are quick to be judgmental and that’s a real shame because it can literally destroy someone’s talents if they have no ability to be resistant." He said "I love what I do and when someone purchases a piece from me and hangs it on their wall, they must like it and that says it all. Through my art work, I feel as though I am helping preserve a piece of who we are and where we came from. I hope that what I have done will open doors for others who have passions but might be afraid of what others might think. People should never be scared to do what they want to do and there should always be an outlet for them, especially our youth."

IDENTIFYING YOUR STRENGTHS

    While the artwork itself has given Mark much to be proud of, it doesn’t stop there. He has just recently completed a children’s book, which he has published entirely on his own. The book is called "Peter, The Team Member" and it features a young boy who finds himself in his first game of pond hockey and not sure what position he should play. He learns about how he can be great at one thing and do that so well, instead of trying to do everything at once. It shows 17- painted illustrations of the young artist’s work and was the result of a business plan prepared as part of his Enterprise 3205 class. Obviously, Mark wasted no time in going around in circles trying to find something which was enjoyable and came naturally to him, and he chose an idea that he already knew he was good at, kind of like his book character. Good sound advice Mark.

    As for the future, Mark has already applied to four schools including the University of New Brunswick. He says he’d eventually like to do the 4-year Architecture program at Dalhousie and go through for his Masters, but to date he has made no final decisions. "For now," he says, " I’ll apply for the Bachelor of Arts program at some University of choice to develop my Art and further explore it for a couple of years. It would be great to see other artists like me and relate to them in their possible struggle to be seen. There's no telling what I'll do exactly, but I'll no doubt take my art with me, wherever I go."

    You can see some of Mark’s many collections on his web site, which can also be purchased there. www.geocities.com/mdadams2000.

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MARKADAMS, 2007.