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

Michael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

I don’t make a full-time living as an artist. I have been working for 17 years as a specialized educator in a center for disabled adults in parallel with my artistic activity. It has also been 17 years that I have had the chance to exhibit my works. It obviously started with small exhibitions before now giving way to larger exhibitions, larger projects. I hope to one day be able to become a full-time artist. I think it’s a finality, a fulfillment of the work provided during all these years. I don’t know if there is a way to speed up the process but I think hard work is the key to success.

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.

As I often say, meeting people is really important! After my artistic studies, I never really exhibited. I started to work as a temporary worker in different fields… Then one day when I was a waiter at a birthday banquet, I met my old painting teacher. The latter then told me that the person I was working for that day was soon organizing an art fair and that if I was interested, that I could participate as an artist. So that was in 2006 and since then I have never stopped exhibiting.
Nothing happens by chance either… It’s so much easier to stay on your sofa watching TV. I believe that I have this tenacity, this strength to continue to believe in my artistic work.
What I am most proud of is definitely my family. Living daily with an artist is not always easy 😊 and I thank them for their patience and love.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I think people who are afraid to take risks indirectly try to send you back to their situation of failure, to destabilize you. But you have to be stronger, keep believing in your dreams and work hard to achieve them.
An artistic career is not within the standards of a classic career plan and that is what can scare people.
I have often heard phrases such as “you won’t make it” etc. But I used that negativity to prove otherwise.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, it is really the sharing of my work when I exhibit. Being able to meet people at openings etc. and have discussions and exchanges with them. I think when you love what you do, the passion is there.
Moreover I can say that I have fun, I really paint what I like and I like to give meaning to each of my paintings.
The creative process is very enjoyable for me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_dr.mund/?fbclid=IwAR2OyODumy74_SliCp8Va8_lLaNZcskpdtdi5mnV2I5GYo4_78DZhRRLIOg
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=michael%20dr.%20mund

Image Credits
Je suis le propriétaire de ces images (Michael Mund)