We recently connected with Michael Johnson and have shared our conversation below.

Michael, appreciate you joining us today. Do you wish you had started sooner?

If I could go back in time I would’ve started my creative career sooner. My dad had a large collection of comic books that I used to sneak out of the clear plastic and draw from when I was a young kid. It was then I fell in love with sci-fi / fantasy movies and cartoons. As a young adult I was inspired by the 90s hip hop culture. I started drawing hip hop artist such as Tupac, Snoop Dogg, and Jay Z. Starting a creative career means stepping out of your comfort zone and truly believing in yourself. Knowing that now makes me wish to had taken this chance sooner.

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’ve always loved art and being creative since a young child. My dad used to draw pictures of people he would see in passing and I found that fascinating. So I tried to mimic him and started drawing and sketching in kindergarten. By the time I was graduating high school, I was drawing pictures of super heroes, hip hop artist, and Ninja Turtles. I drew ninja turtles so much I could draw them from memory. It wasn’t until the Covid pandemic first hit at the beginning of 2020 when I had so much time at home.. I tried oil painting for the first time. It took a few paintings for me to understand how oil paint flows on different surfaces according to how wet the paint comes off the brush. Discovery happens when you invest your time and abilities into something you’re passionate about. I discovered I have a talent to paint and I’ve been painting ever since. Painting portraits is my specialty. I created artwork so that the viewer can see multiple things within the painting. I believe if you look at something long enough you will see more of its beauty pop out and I’ve incorporated that into my artwork. “The things you see at a particular time stem from how you feel at that particular time.” I produce original oil paintings that convey positive emotion. I recently donated my portrait of “George Floyd “ to the family. I’m very proud of this accomplishment so early in my creative career. I’m currently working on a solo exhibition witch is going to feature my collection of portraits inspired my Houston artist entitled “My City” This exhibition will include oil portraits of Megan thee Stallion, Travis Scott, and Beyoncé.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

When I create, I entrap myself in my own thoughts blocking out any stimulation from tv, cell phones, computers, and having conversation with people. This gives you a space to have the freedom to just simply think peacefully. I started practicing meditation two years ago along with switching to a all plant base diet has helped me tremendously. When your body is functioning at an optimal level, you can focus more on your thoughts and getting goals accomplished. I believe everyone is a creator. Some of us just haven’t discovered it yet. The only way to learn what you are truly capable of is to got out there and fail. How you respond to failure defines who you are.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect being an artist is having the creative freedom to see your vision come to life from a simple thought into a series of works simply by believing in yourself. I enjoy bouncing ideas off of my fiancé. She enjoys art just as much as I and already have relationships with a few of Houston’s artists.

Contact Info:

• Website: michaelrayarts.com
• Instagram: __michaelray
• Other: Instagram @icymiketheartist