We were lucky to catch up with Mikel Wintermantel recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mikel, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have been an artist since my early teens, I attended State University of New York’s Potsdam Star Lake summer art program in the Adirondack Mountains at age 14. Being immersed in that comprehensive program was a serious undertaking that gave me the confidence and drive to pursue the arts as a career. It was a college level course and the other students were serious artists. The experience was beneficial and gave me insight into what the creative world could be like.
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 an artist schooled in tradition and raised in a modern world. I have been able to cross the advancement in modern materials and tools with my deep respect for old world methods. Through years of exploration my method and materials have become almost transparent in the creation process. I strive to keep my vision fresh in each painting. I keep my palette simple by sticking with pigments that work well together. I paint layer by layer, scumbling in color in thin, transparent washes at first then working to final details in rich opaque paints. The multiple layers of color marry into a luminous display of color, light and atmosphere. I begin a painting in an almost frantic fashion. I try to establish the overall feel of the piece in the first moments the paint meets the surface. As it develops with each successive layer of paint, I make adjustments as needed pondering the mission of the work. My attention to detail becomes more focused as the painting nears completion, avoiding overwork at all costs.
My work is inspired by the Luminist Artists of The Hudson River School. I am most drawn to the deeply filtered light of dawn and dusk, it is then you can usually find me scanning the horizon and sky for nature’s light show, making plans for another painting.
My paintings have found a home in numerous collections worldwide. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of those collectors. From that, I am at once humbled and flattered to be included in those collections, hanging alongside many of my favorite artists. Many of my paintings are done on copper metal, and framed in my own hand made frames detailed in copper leaf giving my work a unique presence.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The very act of creating something from almost nothing is a rewarding experience in itself. However, I have to say that the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is having someone choose your work to have in their own life and to cherish it.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had been painting since my early teens for a over a decade. I out aside painting for years to focus on a thriving family printing business. I began painting again in earnest 23 years ago when my daughter was born and my wife began nursing school. I soon leaned a new way to create as I stayed home to raise my daughter. This new method of creativity was more efficient and lead to more a satisfactory outcome. I began to reach out to arts organizations and galleries. This was a major pivot in my life as I was soon represented by several galleries coast to coast. My newly learned method allowed me to keep up with demand and stay fresh.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mikelwintermantel.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikel_wintermantel
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikel.wintermantel/