August 2020 - These Curious Times

Feature
“I’m A Foolish Mortal” - The Interview
Topher Adam, Disney inspired artist whose life was changed from the
Haunted Mansion ride at Disney World.
done my own thing, but there is nothing
like ink to paper. When the iPad came out,
I discovered that I could create digital art
with my knowledge of graphic art and
the software out there, putting two and
two together, I dove into creating digital
pieces of art. I began to draw scenes of
the Haunted Mansion and all things
Halloween.
TCTN: How did the name of your
business come about?
Adam: IMAFOOLISHMORTAL.com
was a tribute fan site for all who were
in search of additional stories on the
Haunted Mansion. I think the name says
it all. Each time I tell anyone the name
of my site they laugh and comment,
“Right, ‘cuz I am…” (“a foolish mortal”).
I absolutely adore the humor of that
saying and my site is supposed to help
bring about that feeling. I find humor is
the best thing to wrap yourself up in. So
much of life is a challenge; we must find
joy in something that we adore. I was
determined to build something that
helped share my art and passion for the
Mansion.
TCTN: What is it that draws you to
the Haunted Mansion - not so much the
Disney aspect, but that darker side?
Adam: I have always been drawn
to the darker side. As a child I created
Adam: When I heard about what
was going on in China, I took all the
proper steps to prepare myself and
my family for what I knew would
eventually happen in the States. I bought
masks, filters, food, ordered emergency
supplies; I went a bit nuts and into “end
of the world” mode. When I started to
realize that this was going to affect my
livelihood I allowed my creative thinking
skills to take over. I decided that I would
make my own masks with my own art.
I figured if we had to protect ourselves,
then I will do it on my terms ~ with joy
in mind and make them fun for others.
Never knowing how a new idea will turn
out, artists take risks all the time and
create things hoping they will catch on
and take off. Well, they did just that. I
already knew what my fan based enjoyed
my work, so I decided to go with the art
pieces that were popular, growing the
idea with different designs allowing fans
to decide what they loved and wanted to
sport around in their safety attire. Now
we have done over 1,300 masks, and still
getting orders.
With every good thing you create
there is always an end. You can come
up with something that wows the
world and eventually it slows down and
fades away. That’s the typical web and
Tammye McDuff
Topher Adam creator of “I’m A Foolish
Mortal” has been called many things in
his life because of his enormous creativity.
Adam says he is a creative artist. Even at an
early age he was more interested in art than
he was school. TCTN had the tremendous
opportunity to sit down with Adam and
discuss his talent and one-of-a-kind face
masks with a twisted side. The masks have
caught the attention of radio hosts and
celebrities – and we were able to catch him
between creations.
TCTN: Tell our readers a little bit
about yourself.
Adam: The most important thing
in my entire life has been the ability to
create. In high school…I was a nervous
freshman when I walked into my
elected Art 101 class. After a few days…
my instructor walked up to me and
said, “You can’t be in this class.” It scared
me; I thought I had done something
wrong, I asked her, “Why!” followed by her
answer, “You are just beyond this class!”
After high school I attended university
and acquired a BA in Design and
Visualization. Being a visual artist opens
the doors to so many possibilities, it also
teaches you how to imagine a world of
possibilities and create whatever your
mind and heart desire.
TCTN: Much of your work has
become a showcase for all things Disney,
especially the Haunted Mansion. How
did that come about?
Adam: Disney, oh the wonderful
world of Disney. When I was little I
remember seeing this advert on the
tellie about taking a drawing test to
see your skill level. I ordered the test…
the one with Jiminy Cricket…and I had
to redraw it as one of the tests in the
booklet. Having always been in love with
Disney as a young child. this was easy. But
let me go back a bit…
My first visit to the Disneyland
Resort Park in Florida was at the age of
four. My mum told me we went on The
Haunted Mansion ride, she looked at
me as I stood up in the “doom-buggy,” big
eyed gazing back and forth at everything
that was going on with my mouth wideopen.
She wasn’t sure if I was scared or
amazed. Now she giggles and says she
never thought a ride like that would
change my entire life.
My parents followed their parents;
they went to school, graduated and
went to work. I had no idea that you
could actually have a career working
as an artist for Disney. It just wasn’t
something I knew about. As I got older
I assumed the best fit for a career and
my determination to stay true to my
nature, as an artist, illustrator, painter,
photographer, and fashion designer,
would be in the graphic arts. It seemed
like the right fit. For years I worked for
corporate America in computer graphics
and technology. Yet in the back of my
mind, there was something missing. I
have always sketched, and doodled, and
11
A few of Topher Adam’s clever mask designs.
a fantasy world within to find peace,
living in abuse you tend to close yourself
up and do everything you can to hide
the reality and the pain you experience.
I found solace in the whimsical magic
of the Haunted Mansion, silly ghosts,
hitchhiking spirits, and playful spooks.
Growing up and being a youth drawn
to the darker side I volunteered to work
haunted houses, I drew creatures and
characters; it was so colorful in my mind
that the macabre facet wasn’t scary. I
have a saying, “There is more light in
the dark, because that’s where your
imagination will spark.”
TCTN: When did you decide to create
your own mask art? Was the artwork
pre-existing and you just tweaked it to
fit or are these completely new pieces?
flow of society’s interests. As an artist
I will tell you, that you must have the
next ”big thing” ready at any given time
to maintain interest. It’s a full time/
lifetime job to keep people engaged
with your brand and artwork. My site
is imafoolishmortal.com can be found
on Etsy, eBay, Amazon, Google, FaceBook,
and Instagram. I am always available,
as an artist I love suggestions, take
criticism really well and want the world
to celebrate with my work so it helps
them maintain what they love about
Disney and the haunted mansion.
For the complete in-depth interview,
visit “Our Exclusive with Topher Adam”
on These Curious Times.