- Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer
Mortimer McPherson, Jack of many art forms.
Avia Ustanny, Gleaner Wiriter
THERE ARE very few things in the field of art that Mortimer McPherson has not turned his hand to and done successfully. Currently, he is involved in laser engraving on wood, glass and corian, screen printing, painting, drawing and fretwork. And this is only what he is doing now.
He tells Outlook, "I enjoy art in every sense - ceramics, woodcraft, painting, drawing, sculpture. This is art for me."
Now, using wood, he has applied fretwork to the creation of the images of several popular Jamaicans. The end result is quite "uncommon". The artist, who also has several other occupations along with art' points out that renaissance artist Leornardo Da Vinci was more than a painter. He also designed helicopters.
McPherson is the Jack of multiple careers and master of every one, it appears. Although primarily an artist, he has operated his own book bindery and worked as manager at a computer store. He is also a graduate teacher.
In school at Mico College, he started printing and binding in his room. His wife, also a student at the time, would type the labels.
McPherson, who attended the Edna Manley School for the Visual and Performing Arts for a while, was later the recipient of the British Council Scholarship to the Camberwell School of Art and Printing in London. "I have not looked back," he said. He has since taught book repair and restoration to librarians.
At the printery, he "made printing into a very serious art". Two of his previous employees now own their own business, as a result.
The artist also turned his attention to computer studies. "I wanted to know how to build and repair computers. At the end of the day, you have a brain. The world is changing. You have to make sure that you do not stagnate."
He collected a diploma in this fields in 1999 which included competence in Corel Draw and other graphic programmes.
When the printery was scaled down with the loss of some government printing projects, McPherson became one of the managers of Ultimate Software, working also in marketing and sales.
Soon, however, the stress of the rigid time schedules started to tell and the artist created for himself again a new work environment in which he did not have to watch the clock.
Now, rising early in the morning, he gives his energies to art projects and reading. "I am either doing art, reading about art or, looking at art. I don't see myself functioning without art," he says.
His diligence has led to the commercial opportunities which provide the income for his family.
McPherson, the family man, is also a devout Seventh Day Adventist. He says, "for me it is not about religion. It is about God. It is about the principle of good and upright living. It is about being Christ-centred and responsible enough to apply one's heart to wisdom. I have learnt to be true to me, then I can be true to duty and to my fellowman."
He continues to encourage others who are young in the field of art to persevere.
"I personally believe that art is a gift. One can learn to draw but one cannot be taught to become an artist," he says. He has tried many things, but always, art takes him back home.
