Today we’d like to introduce you to M.E. “Mike” Bailey.
Mike, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
It’s not such a unique story, really. I am one of those guys who was interested in making art as a child. Of course, that interest was stoked by the various artistically inclined grammar school teachers who put watercolors into our hands. I can’t say I excelled at painting with watercolors then, but I sure did love it and was noticeably better than most of the other kids in school. Into middle school, my father pressed me to ignore the art in favor of reading myself for a career. In fact, my grammar school experiences with painting were the end of my art experience until the end of my college years. Having majored in Engineering and Business, I was within weeks of graduating when my advisor came to me with the bad news that I would indeed NOT graduate for not having completed the requirements for three units of art in some form. Of course, serious discussions ensued as I was married with a young daughter and was due to report for the beginning job in my new career. The long and short of it is that I was pressed into a summer drawing class, in order to satisfy the requirement and thus receive my degree. In the first week or two of that class, I was thunderstruck with the realization that I had majored in the wrong field. I NEEDED to be in the art field. I puttered a bit with painting in that class and afterward for a few months, but the demands of work and family took over my time. My subconscious eye, however, was constantly on the lookout for ways to include art in my life, which led me to a career in marketing. Eighteen years passed before a paintbrush found its way into my hand.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
All the while growing up, I had many experiences in the outdoors. In particular searching for the best remote fishing spots all over the western states. Needless to say, my aesthetic senses were always aroused by the scenic beauty of those locations. Indeed, I had a highly emotional connection to the land and moving water. It is difficult to put into words, but there were many occasions where I was nearly overcome emotionally at the sight of a river flowing among a rocky pathway. I now realize that that emotional surge during my sport oriented outings is the basis for all my current paintings. I have gravitated to landscape painting all during my painting career. My hope is that those who see my work will see the same emotional appeal that I do. It is my way of sharing a very intimate experience with our beautiful world.
Those experiences are compounded by placing myself and my painting equipment directly into the scenery and translating my feelings and observations directly to the canvas or paper. Yes, I paint mostly en plein air. I always have. While I also make studio art, there is noticeable energy that appears the work when it is done on site. That experience is recorded from coast to coast, California to Maine, and much in between the coasts… and even Europe. There are many artists who gravitate to the man-made stuff out there. Not me. It must be what exists naturally!
What do you know now that you wished you had learned earlier?
Oh, yes!! I have advice for other artists. Lots and lots of it !!!
The most profound advice I can give to other artists is seemingly naive: “Just Paint!!” And paint, paint, paint, paint, paint, paint, paint, and paint some more. Don’t stop. Don’t critique. Don’t compare yourself or work. Just paint! Put another way, “rack up thousands of miles of brush strokes! it’s all about brush mileage!”
I have noticed that there is a significant amount of mental argument and mental garbage that gets in the way of most beginning painters. There are some very popular myths out there which seem to prevent potential painters from pressing forward to attain success; “you are born talented.’ ‘Some people are born with the skill or they weren’t.’ “how could I ever expect to be good when there are other painters that are already so far ahead of me?”
Most of this self-talk is self-defeating. Take risks. Be willing to fail and be ready to accept failure as superb learning experiences.
Painting expertise comes out of a lot of painting experience. It can’t be learned in classes or books. One just has to do it!
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
The best artists I have met in my life aren’t always the ones that are commercially visible. The motives of various artists are as different as any other occupation. Some paint for a cause. Some paint for the money. Some paint for attention. Who knows why anyone does what they do? I paint for the sheer pleasure of being squarely in the moment and enjoying the act of making art while experiencing the scenery around me. Displaying art is a secondary concern.
I currently live on the west coast and display my work in a few galleries, but only occasionally. On the other hand, I hold an annual show at my studio and home where fans can view and acquire the art made over the previous year. As well, I enter various painting competitions in national venues from time to time. Those shows and social media services to get my work recognized around the country.
While purchasing my work is one avenue that the public can support my art career, teaching workshops around the country bring a large cadre of followers and help pay for travel and art supplies. In the end, the exposure creates avenues for my artwork to find homes all over the USA.
Contact Info:
- Address: M.E. “Mike” Bailey
105 Geneva Court
Santa Cruz, CA 95060 - Website: www.mebaileyart.com
- Phone: 831-438-6142
- Email: mebaileyart@comcast.net
- Facebook: M.E. “Mike” Bailey and Mike Bailey
Getting in touch: VoyageChicago is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
