We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lourans Mikhail. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lourans below.
Lourans, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?
As cliche as it may sound, I learned by doing. The more I realized each failure is a step toward success, the more I experimented. I took up sculpting, continued woodworking, painted murals, and even sculpted in stone. I found the best way to learn was also by looking at other artworks and breaking down each brushstroke or layer. Lastly, of course, other artists. There have been many artists that I look up to or at times more established artists that have given me advice or tips, and shown me techniques along the way. Sometimes even just a nod of approval helps steamroll you into a circle of constant education.
My biggest obstacle was and at times is still self-doubt, based on other people’s experiences or anecdotal assumptions. That’s something that I continue to refocus into something more positive. I think the biggest skill to have as an artist is to show up and allow yourself to be heard and seen. Trusting the process and realizing that you will get better by the act of doing.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I was going to school for graphic and web design after leaving the Marines. I realized I didn’t want to work on something or for someone that didn’t have my principles or followed a set of conflicting morals. As a graphic designer, that would require me to do that if I was in an agency or some kind of studio environment. I wanted to be able to express myself and my beliefs so I started drawing, then painting, and eventually sculpting and doing murals. I started creating mixed works, and one of my most popular ones was my “Tr*mp Toilet* It was a golden toilet that had Tr*mps face painted inside of it with his mouth open where your waste would go. Around the whole inside were words and phrases that he had used. I left it at his Hollywood star one weekend before he was impeached coincidentally.
My most known works are my sculptural series titled “Different Strokes” in which I use brushes to tell a narrative. I remove the normal bristles used to paint or write and replace them with bullets, lightbulbs, lipstick, or a paint roller with syringes in a belt clip used for ammunition.
Lastly I created my own font titled “Anamorphic Alphabet”, where I create upper and lower case letters in a single letter-form, using one line that never intersects. It is dependent on the view you look at the letter to see either one or the other, maybe both. The plans with these is to turn them into public art sculptures and more.
My work is huge on perspective, whether optical or word based, I try to allow something new to soak in to the viewer.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to do public art and interact with the local community. I love seeing how people are affected by the art I am doing. Saying what needs to be said instead of going with what’s more popular, what gets more likes on social media. Just being able to do what I love.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Allow more people to create art. I feel the majority of cities could use more diverse public art. From murals to sculptures, I feel the artist roster needs to be diverse, showcasing more talent instead of the same ones over and over.
Contact Info:
- Website: LouransMikhail.com
- Instagram: LouransMikhail
- Facebook: LouransMikhail
- Twitter: LouransMikhail
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa6XM3F6fTub0H6Ef9ADSWA/about