In short, it's a nod to my dad, Mark.
Mark was an artist all his life. He dabbled in all kinds of mediums, but was particularly good with charcoal drawing. Alongside his day job, dad ran a small business creating these portraits in our home basement in Bismarck, North Dakota, until his passing in 2005. I miss him dearly every day.
Making art has, and always will, make me feel closer to Mark. The older I get, the more I realize I am more like my dad than I realized. I always saw myself as my mostly my mom - dedicated, responsible, organized, diplomatic, nurturing - with some flares of Mark. But now, I understand his wandering artist mentality and see more and more of those traits in myself. My dad was a passionate guy with a big personality (if you knew him, you know). He really leaned into his passions and loved to touch people's lives through his art and day job at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park. He valued finding joy in his work and showed me how much loving your work can create a happy life, even if it's not the most lucrative option. I am grateful to both my Mom and Dad for giving me an exceptional foundation of responsibility and passion, organization and creativity, dedication and pursuit that has lead me to this path today. My dad was so fortunate to have a spouse in my mom that supported his passions and encouraged him, while leading the way forward. (Thanks Mom!)
I am also fortunate to have a spouse who supports me in my endeavor to find a career path that brings me so much joy. This is where the White in WhiteMark comes in. White is our family name. It connects us together. I became Adrienne White on September 1, 2012 and since that day, L (husband) has not hesitated to stand beside me while I have tested the waters of multiple careers and pathways in the search of that joy. For his love and support, I will be forever grateful.
Finally, I did not want my name to be a brand. In a world where everyone is branding themselves, I wanted to keep the business as a separate entity. Simple as that..
So, there you have it - WhiteMark Ceramics - a little pottery shop-name full of love.
Thank you for joining me on this journey!
~Adrienne