Artist Spotlight: Mario Fera
Share a little bit about yourself and what you create.
My name is Mario Fera and I’ve always had a passion for art. As a kid I was always drawing. There was never enough paper in our home. When I ran out of paper, my mother would cut paper grocery bags so I could draw on them. I was colouring on any paper surface I could find. I excelled in art and was asked by the teachers to draw pictures for class events. I would win drawing contests throughout my school years and as a teenager, I was selling portrait paintings.
As a ten year old, forty-five years ago, I was inspired and influenced by a portrait artist who worked at the Parkview Gallery in Niagara Falls. His name was Alain Langile. He introduced me to pastels. I was amazed by the realism he could achieve with this chalky medium. I would stand behind him studying his hands and blending techniques as he sketched his subjects. I always think of him to this day and wonder what ever happened to him. He was a true master of his craft. I guess there is always a bit of Alain in my work. I have experimented with other media like oil paints and watercolours, but pastels are my specialty.
Today, I live on the outskirts of West Brantford with my wife. What I like about my neighbourhood is that even though I’m in the city, it’s just a minute’s drive to the country and the Grand River is a five-minute walk. It’s the best of both worlds.
What is your creative process like and what inspires it?
For me it all starts with colour, or the way light and shadow intermix. If I see something that catches my eye and gives me that “wow” feeling, I visualize it framed and contemplate how to paint it. I paint anything whether it is a person, a scene, or still life. I see it on paper in my head. If the colours are there with just the right amount of light, then it has my attention. I’m always looking at things like the texture of bark on a tree branch or how sunlight is hitting a surface and in my mind I’m creating it with pastel strokes.
When I create a pastel painting, I work in steps. I outline the major objects and gradually build on them with layers of pastel until I’m satisfied with the result. I block out the outside world and I’m totally absorbed in my work. I find Classical or Celtic music puts me at ease while I’m painting.
Other people’s work fuels my creativity. Whether it’s a painting hanging in a museum or a drawing in a flea market, I study the painting looking carefully at the brush strokes, and the elements of artistic design. I look at the light in the painting and its contrast to shadow. It’s like a magnet challenging me to do the same and create.
My workspace is a converted bedroom with a drawing table, a storage workstation and shelves to hold materials. Light, or I should say lack of natural light, is my problem. A few more windows would do nicely, but I get by with a combination of sunlight and artificial light.
My wife is my biggest inspiration today. She’s always pushing me to be more creative and she’s my number one fan.
What has been your favourite creative moment?
My favourite creative moment was the portrait of my parents that I did for their 50th wedding anniversary. I’ll never forget the look in their eyes when they saw it. They thought it was a large framed photograph. They were so proud of it they hung it in their living room and showed it off to everyone. Sometimes the best gifts are from the heart.
What else do you enjoy doing with your time?
My wife and I are fortunate to have traveled to places in Europe and Africa where I have taken thousands of photos. I enjoy photography as it is an art form in itself. I use my photography to aid my paintings. I also enjoy astronomy. One only has to gaze upon the night sky and see how small we are in the grand scheme of things. With a telescope, the beauty of the universe is exposed – which is why I believe the best things in life are free.
Does creativity run into your family? If so, who is creative and what do they do?
I have an older sister that has painted in the past, but other than her, I’m not aware of any family member past or present that is artistically or musically creative.
How can we learn more about your work?
I hope to have a website up this year. Ten years ago, I had my work in Glenhyrst and various other galleries in Southern Ontario. I won some local art competitions and was a member of the Pastel Artists of Ontario. I took a few years off and now have the creative urge once again.
Where would you like your art to take you?
I’d be lying if I said that I don’t care if I didn’t make it as an accomplished artist. A little recognition is a good thing. My art is something that I would never stop doing, so I’d like to make it a post-retirement career. I would be able to devote more time to it and actually enjoy my retirement years.
How long have you lived in Brantford?
I’ve lived in Brantford for 28 years.
What is your favourite restaurant in town?
I have two restaurants in Brantford that are my favourite: Café Andreou and Trattoria Giuliana. They come close to cooking food the way my mother cooked.
What local spaces or landmarks do you find inspiring?
I enjoy the Grand River paths in the summer. It’s a place where I can go for a walk, enjoy nature and take photos of interesting things that could one day be put on canvas or paper.
What change would you like to see in Brantford?
I would like to see a more refined and vibrant downtown offering a unique and special shopping experience. I’ve always envisioned the downtown section as an artsy tourist place with cobblestone roads and old style street lamps lining the street. There would be craft shops and outdoor patios with live music and the street would be permanently closed to traffic. The streets would have masses of shoppers looking for rare gifts. It would be a unique shopping place in Southern Ontario where potters, artisans and crafts people show and sell their work. I think it would be a big boost to Brantford tourism.
