Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathleen Michael. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Kathleen thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear from you about what you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry and why it matters.
Money moves the media and “the media is the message” (Marshall McLuhan). Consumers thirst for art is ultimately greatly affected by trends that are repeatedly messaged and which ultimately become the profitmakers for companies, galleries, and auction houses that look to move their “products” quickly. Fine Art companies selling paintings and photography are popping up all over and looking to satisfy the consumer desires of quickly decorating walls with creative and pleasing images. But the very nature of the corporate connection challenges the need for authenticity, originality, creativity, and quality assurance. The corporate connection is driven by a companies’ profitability needs. And, in my opinion, the artist is then compromised to produce what sells in this marketplace. Do I paint one composition style over another? Are landscapes sellable? Is there opportunity to sell an Impressionistic style painting? What are the colors of the year that the trendsetters identify? Where did my creativity go, should I succumb to worrying about what will sell in this type of corporate world?
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am one of the many that chose not to follow an art passion early in life, as the ambitions of my parents were that I choose a career that would “sustain”me, with their view that painting was not in that category. I continued to dabble in drawing, painting, and working in inks before my children came along. After working as a Clinical Social Worker for many years and raising the family, I immediately turned back to the fine arts. At the time, I was still living in NY and I began taking classes in drawing and painting. Moving soon after to New Mexico gave me a plethora of painting opportunities and experiences, of which I will always treasure. I am presently based both in Colorado and Florida; paint almost daily when I can; and traverse between landscapes and still life images. Although I spent a few years working in pastels, I have moved over to solely painting in oils over the last decade. My still life work took a strong hold during the pandemic and have been evolving from textiles to hyperrealistic ordinary,everyday objects (e.g. giving paperbags a story) to collections of objects in a contemporary composition.
I love to evolve!! There are so many creative possibilities and so much to discover.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
What drives me is the recognition that my creative passion is being fueled by painting and that any deterrence along the way are minor and can be overcome with time and resilience. I am of the mindset that my goals may not always be easily achieved but that is OK. Mistakes and disappointments only lead to correction and are important and productive lessons along the way, if I choose to receive them. Painting and any creative path isn’t easy. Skill building and hours, months, and years of learning are imperative. One doesn’t wake up and realize that one is talented and can paint anything worthy, without this. It is hard and disappointing ( at times) work and requires persistence and a belief in oneself to keep going, no matter what.
And when you step back after finishing a painting and feel good about what it says, then everything comes together!! And you celebrate!
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I look back upon this episode with humor and a smile on my face. Immediately after moving to New Mexico some years ago, I traveled to the New Mexico Art League to connect with their art scene. A very renowned artist was in the area and providing a weekend workshop in pastel painting. I registered and brought (naively) the pastels I had (a box of TEN) and photo references (required) that I had which were B&W photos (!!). I was very excited and arrived to see all of the other participants with large boxes of pastel ranging into the 100’s and a vast array of tools and accoutrements. Nonetheless, I settled into a spot. After the morning demonstration, each person showed the instructor their reference photos to decide what image to work on. He was aghast when I showed him my B&W photos and I think thought I was a bit nuts. Then, upon coming around to each individual to survey their workings, he was doubly aghast at my 10 pastels and proceeded to yell at me “How do you expect me to teach you when you are so unprepared”. Everyone turned back to their easels and their was silence in the studio. He continued to be frustrated with me verbally and told me to go get a decent set of pastels after the class ended. Although I was shaken by this (and embarrassed), I knew that I wanted to paint and my desires were stronger than being humiliated by him. BTW, there were no pastels to be found in Albuquerque after the class and I pulled my self together; arrived the next day with my box of 10; and was befriended by a classmate who shared her massive stock with me. Hooray to resilience and hooray to helping others.
Contact Info:
- Website: Kathymichael.art
- Instagram: Kathymichaelart
- Facebook: Kathleen Michael