June 21, 2016 at 08:42PM
Sometime you never know what hangs in the balance just on the other side of your creation. Push through the struggle and create your art. It just might be THE thing someone has been waiting for. #art #artist #create #creative #creativethoughts #creativity #artistlife #struggle #sq
June 21, 2016 at 07:50PM
Here's a recent commission I did for Father's Day. Digital portraits are a great way to capture those special moments and relationship #art #fathersday #digitalart #artcommission #portrait #drawing #sq #illustration #digitalpainting #artist #draw #custom
June 21, 2016 at 06:56PM
First day of summer. Inspiration by @anechka_m #summer #pool #art #digitalart #digitalpainting #swimming #float #summertime #sq #illustration #drawing #instaart #artist
June 20, 2016 at 09:31PM
Yoga pose. This has to be one of the craziest I've sketched so far. Well done and thanks for the inspiration @kinoyoga #yoga #art #yogainspiration #yogaeverywhere #yogapose #digitalart #digitalpainting #drawing #sq #illustration #draw #figure #pose
June 19, 2016 at 09:36PM
Artist becomes art. Inspired by @amandamicheleart #art #artist #artistlife #sketchbook #digitalart #drawing #sq #illustration #painting #feet #pen #digitalpainting #digitaldrawing
June 18, 2016 at 11:12PM
Day 62 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #charcoal #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook #drawing
June 18, 2016 at 04:37PM
Day 61 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #charcoal #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook #drawing
June 18, 2016 at 04:35PM
Day 60 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #charcoal #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook #drawing
June 18, 2016 at 04:34PM
Day 59 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #charcoal #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook #drawing
June 18, 2016 at 04:32PM
"Mr. Spideys' Neighborhood" // new art print all ready for the Heroes & Villains fan fest NY/NJ in a few weeks! #art #digitalart #mrrogers #spiderman #mashup #neighborhood #sq #illustration #fanart #drawing #superhero #spidey #artist #artwork
June 18, 2016 at 12:44AM
Yoga pose. Inspired by @hollywoodtruett #art #yoga #yogainspiration #yogaeverywhere #pose #figure #digitalart #drawing #draw #illustration #sq #artist #create #digitalpainting
June 17, 2016 at 07:35PM
Summer. Inspired by @maariemichelecote #summer #pool #tube #swim #art #drawing #digitalart #digitalpainting #illustration #sq #draw #figure #artwork #artist
June 16, 2016 at 10:25PM
Day 58 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #charcoal #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook
June 16, 2016 at 07:19PM
Love Conquers All
Last night, I posted a drawing to social media like I do every day. But this time, my offering was for the victims who lost their lives in the mass shooting in Orlando, and their friends and families.
Here's was my original post:
“Tonight I spent the evening drawing each victim of the Orlando shooting who died, praying for the families. Sometimes any response feels inadequate. But drawing is what I do, so tonight I did it to honor the victims and their family. There is so much pain.
This is not about politics. This is not about laws. There are already too many opinions and spin doctors. This is not a place for any of that. Please keep any comments to yourself that aren’t grace filled.
This is not about anything but real people. People who were victims. And as a follower of Jesus I believe I am called to show His love, and stand with the broken hearted. As feeble of an attempt as this is, I offer it with my thoughts and prayers, to a hurting community...
”
The reaction has been overwhelming. I always hope that I can create art that moves people, and apparently this has. I am truly humbled. Truth be told, I almost didn't create it. I was feeling like it wasn't enough. There's a story in the Bible where a little boy offers his small lunch of fish & loaves to Jesus, so that He might feed the five thousand. And while I'm not delusional enough to think that my feeble offeirng is in any way comparable, I do pray that it brings whatever healing, encouragement, love, light and hope it can.
If you know any of the victims friend or families, i would love it if you could share this with them. To let them know they are not alone. To let them know that, when one hurts, we all hurt.
I felt like I needed to create a post where I could share the drawings larger. To better honor each person. So I've listed them below. If you pray, why not pray as you view the names and drawings. And do something today to spread love.
Stanley Almodovar III
Amanda Alvear
Oscar A Aracena-Montero
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala
Antonio Davon Brown
Darryl Roman Burt II
Angel L. Candelario-Padro
Juan Chevez-Martinez
Luis Daniel Conde
Cory James Connell
Tevin Eugene Crosby
Deonka Deidra Drayton
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez
Leroy Valentin Fernandez
Mercedez Marisol Flores
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz
Juan Ramon Guerrero
Paul Terrell Henry
Frank Hernandez
Miguel Angel Honorato
Javier Jorge-Reyes
Jason Benjamin Josaphat
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla
Christopher Andrew Leinonen
Alejandro Barrios Martinez
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez
Kimberly Morris
Akyra Monet Murray
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera
Joel Rayon Paniagua
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez
Enrique L. Rios, Jr.
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan
Edward Sotomayor Jr.
Shane Evan Tomlinson
Martin Benitez Torres
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez
Luis S. Vielma
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon
Jerald Arthur Wright
Tonight I spent the evening drawing each victim of the Orlando shooting who died, praying for the families. Sometimes any response feels inadequate. But drawing is what I do, so tonight I did it to honor the victims and their family. There is so much pain. This is not about politics. This is not about laws. There are already too many opinions and spin doctors. This is not a place for any of that. Please keep any comments to yourself that aren't g
June 15, 2016 at 11:58PM
Yoga pose. Inspiration by @rebeccahajekyoga ------------------------------ Yoga people- quick poll. Would you ever be interested in commissioning a digital painting like this of you doing your favorite pose? Is there something you'd like to commemorate? A certain accomplishment? #yoga #art #yogainspiration #yogaeverywhere #yogaeveryday #digitalart #digitalpainting #drawing #illustration #artist #artwork #sq #figure #fitness
June 15, 2016 at 08:26PM
Day 57 #the100dayproject #100daysofmikesportraits #art #sq #sketch #sketchbook #charcoal
June 15, 2016 at 12:12PM
Can I be honest with you? Every day I post art. Most days, I post several times a day. I don't do this just to create more noise and fill up a social media stream. I do it because I desire for my art to move people. Move you. Maybe make you smile, or feel, bring some healing in a dark time, share a passion, or create art inspired by someone else's photo to let them know they matter and were notice. I share how I see things. And hope that I leave
June 14, 2016 at 09:36PM
On the Left is the original photo and the final digital pet portrait on the right.
When Scars Become Art
If you had told me when I was a kid that I would be capturing people's beloved family member pets using my art, I would have laughed. Or run the other way at least.
When I was around seven years old, a neighborhood friend encouraged me to pet a dog that was loose on our street. She was under the impression that this dog belonged to a fellow neighbor. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a stray, who when feeling threatened, chomped down his teeth on my little seven year old hand. I was terrified. I can still remember the sting of the bite. I had to get several stitches, that resulted in scars still visible today. So, needless to say, I became extremely afraid of dogs.
Thankfully, years later my family adopted a scrappy little Border Collie mixed breed, named Barney. He was insane. He loved to howl while I played guitar, jumped in the air constantly, and wedged himself between me and some girlfriends through the years. He had wiggled his way into my heart. My fears quickly faded away. In its place grew a love for "man’s best friend".
Today, I am the proud owner of two dogs, Biscuit (a Golden mix) and Cooper (a Chihuahua mix). They are forever by my side (Even as I write this).
If you’re anything like me, your camera roll on your phone is filled with photos of your pet. When they make “that” face. When they pose for you almost knowing you’ll be posting their photo to social media immediately. We try to capture their personality and essence. Because we love them, and want others to love them too. We want them to see what we see!
But we never print those photos do we? We post them to social media where they get buried in the stream of activity. We might have intentions to print our pets photo, but even i we do, the likelihood of us actually hanging that photo on display are pretty slim. Can you relate?
That’s why I love creating pet portraits. It’s making a decision to value your pet with art. Art that you proudly display in your home or office. Art that capture that certain something about your pet - that thing you love. That thing you always talk about with others.
I get it. I’m one of you- a pet lover. Whether it’s creating art for a current pet or one that has passed on, I love to partner with owners like you to create a special work of art that you can be proud to display and share with others.
So can I ask you a question? Have you considered having a pet portrait created? Do you know where you would proudly display it? Maybe today is the day to push past intentions (like printing those camera roll photos), and finally make the decision to have a one-of-a-kind pet portrait created.
If you’re interested, I’d love to talk to you about how I can help. I apply not only my many years as an artist, but also my love for animals, these pets that become family. It would be my privilege! Just fill out this form at the bottom of the page and let’s start our conversation today!