It all begins with a crazy idea.
Drawing on the back of church attendance cards in the 70s is how it all began. From there it escalated very quickly to graffiti and general artistic Hooliganism. After receiving high marks in creative classes in high school in Olathe, Kansas, that inspiration and schooling led to awards at a local, juried art competition. Then the Gallery Deal became a reality. Selling and showing in the 80s in Leawood, Kansas seemed like the creative journey was just getting off the ground. Then the direction changed…I thought being a graphic designer for Sprint Publishing & Advertising would be a better fit for me, followed shortly by a move to Chicago and a return to college and a BFA in Printmaking & Sculpture from the University of Wisconsin in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Found Object and assemblage was something I loved from university as were linocuts and other printmaking genres. Moving forward to the present, my inspiration currently comes from many diverse artists— Masters of Abstract & Pop Art, Comic & Graffiti styles, too.
Thank you for taking time to browse my store for great original art & curated merchandise. Supporting living artists helps make people’s lives happy, fruitful and productive. Starting to collect art can seem like a gamble (who can pick the next Damien Hirst? Or Francis Bacon?) but I really believe art shouldn’t be purchased as an investment at first. Just buy art because it makes you happy, or happy by gifting art, to someone. Art can tell a story, voice an opinion, evoke a feeling—-all good things! Art works should last, not be fleeting, even if an artist becomes an art darling of the moment. Again, I say buy art for the love of the work. There are over 1.5 bajillion websites out there, but my story and unique style is what’s going to separate it from the rest. If you view art, and internally create questions—-How did he make that? What is he or she trying to convey? or How does it make me feel when viewing the work?—-my artwork should evoke feelings that cause viewers to create a dialogue—internally or externally. As long as the work I create makes you think, I still have more work to do, but I’m getting through to art followers. Be well, Be Happy!
Michael L. Hazelton