We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Michael Kiser a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I consider myself a newer artist. I’ve always been creative, but I didn’t start doing “art” until 2020. I am a self-taught artist. I began by experimenting on my iPad with an app called Procreate, and I was able to navigate the system pretty quickly thanks to my prior knowledge of photography and photo editing. I’ve always been a creative person, but this is when I was able to start expressing myself more freely.

I was invited to create some physical pieces for a fashion show hosted by Momentum of Roses, which helped me break into the physical art world. Since then, I’ve been experimenting more with painting and have showcased my works at a few art shows.

One of the most essential skills I’ve developed is consistency. I try to create something every day, whether it’s doodling on my iPad or painting. This constant practice helps me continue growing as an artist.

Time is one of the biggest obstacles I face. Sometimes, there just aren’t enough hours in the day to work on the pieces I want to create. Working a full-time job makes it hard to work on art when inspiration strikes, but it also makes the time I do have to create even more exciting. I love the process of setting up in my garage, playing some music, and getting lost in my art.

Michael, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am an artist whose style stands out because of how different it is. I enjoy a wide range of activities, and I think that’s what people notice. I love going to the gym and staying active, I’m a big fan of music and explore new genres, I enjoy watching sports, and I’m also a huge fan of street fashion.

I’ve worked in retail since 2011 and have been an Area Sales Manager at Dillard’s for 8 years. Through these experiences, I’ve learned a lot about business and how to promote effectively. Doing digital art allows me to be creative with my designs. Seeing my art on T-shirts, prints, and even my own coffee (coming soon) is what I enjoy the most.

I love doing pop-ups at markets around town because it gives me a chance to showcase my work and meet new people who haven’t seen it before. These pop-ups have been a great way for me to connect with both customers and fellow creators.

In addition to creating for fun, I do freelance work on the side, which includes logo design, product creation, website building, and more. I enjoy helping other business owners grow and take pride in seeing their reactions when they receive a new logo or product.

One of the things I’m most proud of is that I’ve been able to create a style that is unique and stands out. I want to be an artist who you’re drawn to because my work is unlike anything you’ve seen before.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

I use Instagram as my main way to promote myself. It can be deflating in the beginning to try and gain a presence on social media when there are so many different pages out there. I started out just posting my work, but I didn’t get much traction. When I began using my page to connect with others and show behind-the-scenes, work-in-progress content, I started to see more followers and engagement. Social media is something you really have to work at consistently. It takes a lot of effort to build, but in today’s world, it can really determine how quickly you can grow.

Social media can often be viewed negatively, but Instagram has been the main driver behind people knowing who I am and what my art is. I’ve had so many opportunities come my way just because of the reach that social media provides. I’ve created merch for bands going on tour, done special collaborations with a coffee shop named Leyenda out of Midland, TX, and worked with artists from miles away on various projects.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a creative is seeing a project finished. Often, I have a scattered idea inside my head. The fun part is actually trying to piece it together to figure out what the idea truly is. Sometimes it comes together quickly, and other times I start and stop multiple times before it actually works out.

It’s always rewarding when I see someone else love the work I’ve done just as much—or even more—than I do. Especially when it connects with someone in a way that is unique to them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://dopedoodles00.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dopedoodles00/