Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing Mark Divine, a photographer, and a self-published author.
Please tell us something about yourself.
I’m 20 years old, and I like taking very pop surrealistic photos and writing some darker poems that myself and people can relate to.
How did you get into what you do right now? Please tell us more about your journey.
My journey as an artist and as a human being has been tough for a while. I’ve always expressed myself through some type of art form ever since I was young. But when I got a little bit older, I started really expressing myself through photography and poetry. And it was a great outlook for me because I finally felt I could pour my emotions and thoughts into something. I felt as if I could use my pain and create something beautiful out of it.
Who are your role models?
I have a lot of role models. A lot of my role models are people in my family. Like my dad and my mom. Even my aunts and cousins. But one of my biggest role models is Lady Gaga. She’s always inspired me from a very young age. She always taught me to be creatively free and gave me the confidence I needed to be my own artist and not listen to critics.
What inspires you?
I love this question, but yet it’s always hard for me to answer. Inspiration for me comes and goes. I can get inspired by almost anything. A color, Music, Nature, or the people around me and the experiences I go through inspire me. For my first book, Lost Lullabies, I was really inspired by children’s lullabies. And almost rewrote them to make them darker and more relatable. I was very inspired by the concept of light and dark. And I think that concept really reflects throughout all of my work.
Please tell us about your book.
My newest poetry book Heartbreak Hotel is something I had been working on since a long time. There’s a lot of layers within the storyline, and for me, as an artist, it was a story from beginning to end. With the book beginning with a poem called “checking in” and then ending the book with a poem called “checking out,” everything in the middle shows the experience of what it’s like in this hotel. I felt as if I could create a place where I can go check into and cry and deal with my emotions. I could check out and leave feeling better and stronger. It reminded me of a hotel. And that’s what inspired me to write the whole book.
What’s your most memorable experience?
I think the thing I remember the most was sitting in my room alone at night, writing poems, and putting together a body of work. That feeling was really warm to me for some reason. I also think the most memorable experience was the day it was finally released! I was so nervous! Yet so happy and excited to share it with everyone.
Which social media channels work best for promoting your work? What exactly do you do on the social media channel that makes it work for you?
The best place for me is Instagram. I think it’s such a cool app, and I see a lot of talented people posting their work. I’m a very visual person, and I think Instagram is a really great way to share and spread your creativity and artwork with the world.
What’s your greatest fear?
One of my biggest fears is being misunderstood. It scares me to think that people might think something of me that I’m not. I’m just a human like everyone else.
Looking back, what’s one thing you wish you understood better before you ever got started?
I wish I understood better to not rush through things while creating. I wish I could go back and tell myself to take my time, and that everything would eventually come together.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Never give up. If you have a dream or goal, just go for it head-on. The biggest strategy for me was completely ignoring everything and everyone who told me I couldn’t do it. You have to become completely fearless when you are an artist. Especially when your first starting out. Always stand strong beside your work.
What keeps you going when things get tough?
My family and close friends keep me going a lot. They’re my biggest supporters when it comes to my work. But when things get tough for me, I sometimes like to take days to myself and take long walks or bike rides listening to music or playing a fun video game. I try to do things that help me kind of escape from the world for a little while.
Any message for our readers.
I just want to say thank you! For supporting me and my artistic vision, and to be kind to yourself and others, and always fight for what you believe in.
How can people connect with you?
Mainly through my Instagram or Twitter. I always love talking to people in my DMs about art or giving advice to other small artists!