The Crown of Thorns App
Dear fellow Christians,
My name is Mark Cannon and I have been given a very special gift from God – my art.
Apparently drawing before I was speaking, my mother recognized my gift & placed me in
an adult oil painting class at the age of seven. I painted my first portraits at eight years old
and sold my first portrait commission “Heather“ at nine.
I was raised in a deeply rooted Christian family & went to church every Sunday my entire
life growing up. A life sized crucifix, hand carved from wood hung majestically above the
alter in our neighbourhood parish. Even as a very young child, I can remember being
drawn to and connected with the amazing story depicted by this statue. At the age of
twelve, I was both old enough & founded enough in my Christian faith to understand that
God had given me a very special talent to which I was so grateful.
On Good Friday in 1975, I put my drawing pad & pencils in my backpack, got on my Schwinn
Stingray bicycle & drove the 31/2 miles to the Church of the Nativity in Midland Park, NJ.
Sitting quietly, alone in the third pew, I drew the statue to which I was so drawn. For two hours,
I felt so close to His pain and frustration, not truly understanding but knowing & feeling
His love, proclaimed through His sacrifice for me. That experience as a twelve year old
began a bond between my Jesus, my art & those all-encompassing two hours on Good
Friday and began a tradition that has lasted decades. The wonder of that Good Friday in
1983 and the beginning of my Ministry can be read under “The Miracle”.
My name is Mark Cannon and I have been given a very special gift from God – my art.
Apparently drawing before I was speaking, my mother recognized my gift & placed me in
an adult oil painting class at the age of seven. I painted my first portraits at eight years old
and sold my first portrait commission “Heather“ at nine.
I was raised in a deeply rooted Christian family & went to church every Sunday my entire
life growing up. A life sized crucifix, hand carved from wood hung majestically above the
alter in our neighbourhood parish. Even as a very young child, I can remember being
drawn to and connected with the amazing story depicted by this statue. At the age of
twelve, I was both old enough & founded enough in my Christian faith to understand that
God had given me a very special talent to which I was so grateful.
On Good Friday in 1975, I put my drawing pad & pencils in my backpack, got on my Schwinn
Stingray bicycle & drove the 31/2 miles to the Church of the Nativity in Midland Park, NJ.
Sitting quietly, alone in the third pew, I drew the statue to which I was so drawn. For two hours,
I felt so close to His pain and frustration, not truly understanding but knowing & feeling
His love, proclaimed through His sacrifice for me. That experience as a twelve year old
began a bond between my Jesus, my art & those all-encompassing two hours on Good
Friday and began a tradition that has lasted decades. The wonder of that Good Friday in
1983 and the beginning of my Ministry can be read under “The Miracle”.
