~Michael D. Edens

*****************************

I was born in 1980 and raised in Rochester MN, with my Mom and Dad, a younger brother, and younger sister. I currently live in Houston TX with my wife. When I was a child, I had a strong urge to create things, not just artistically, but I liked being inventive and imaginative. I enjoyed drawing and sculpting a lot, and would spend hours playing with homemade playdough, crayons, and construction paper. The enjoyment I got from these activities is a feeling I’ve pursued most of my life.

Other people, even my parents, didn’t always understand my art. Abstract art was especially confusing to the people around me, and I was encouraged to paint pretty landscapes. I enjoy pretty landscapes too, but there was more that I wanted to express. And I understood that sometimes I was able to express myself and my emotions with colors and abstract shapes.

Eventually, I found other people at school and over the Internet that understood there are a variety of ways to create art as well. It took a long time to find encouragement and support from other people, and I suppose it was never a guarantee, but I couldn’t stop creating, doodling, and sketching even if nobody else in the world affirmed my work. I also began to see there is always more to learn, both about the process of creating from other people, and about myself and how I would like to create.

As I’ve grown up, my understanding of the process of creating art continually changes. I learned a lot about technique, color theory, and practiced a lot. And every other artist’s work I see influences me in some way, whether I realize it or not. Even day to day events can influence art too, like a particularly interesting sunset, or an interesting scientific concept, or the makeup on someone’s face. I don’t walk around all the time like this, but sometimes I am able to let everything that I can sense in this world pour through me, and I let my interpretation come out on paper.

The process is difficult to explain in words, but it’s a very non-judgmental, observant process. In a way, it doesn’t feel like I’m the one creating the art. For example, I usually don’t plan on what I’m going to draw, or what colors I will use. I open up to the world around me, and the images and color choices seem to pop in to mind when they are ready. I suspect this is due to years of learning about art, and practicing until I don’t think about the process too much. I could always use some more practice, and I was about 25 years old before this process felt comfortable. However, I’m still unable to repeat it consistently.

Additionally, as all of this artistic growth was occurring during my high school years, college years, and beyond, I was going to school and working a lot. I’ve sold a few drawings and paintings here and there, many to friends and family, but I’ve been primarily working as a Marketing Specialist for businesses and individuals for the past 10 years. I love my job very much, because it allows me to be creative in a different way. But I still use the same process of taking in as much information as possible about a person or business, and creating a plan that gets them attention for their work. This creative process is a big part of my life, but again, I suspect it will change over time.

I also feel that it’s important to note that I don’t primarily create art for money. While I think most working artists are fantastic, and I would enjoy trying it someday, I currently create from a uniquely spontaneous attitude, both in subject matter and style. Also, in terms of consistency, there are times when I will draw every day for weeks or months at a time, and other times I’ll focus on activities like reading, playing games, and dealing with the day-to-day events of life for months or years at a time.

For more information and examples of my artistic process, I’ll refer you to an Interview with me in 2008, as well as to time-lapse videos of my drawing/painting process via YouTube. And for more biographical facts, there’s the original School/Work Biography and Art Resume.

I’ll end with noting that I personally don’t think there is any right or wrong way to create art. I think it’s an expression that is unique to individuals and their experience of the world, which changes over time. Practicing art the way everyone around you says it should be done can be helpful, as there is a lot to learn. But through it all, for me, real joy comes from loving and accepting myself completely, living life fully, and expressing my unique perspective. And thanks to the Internet, sharing with the world.

Thanks again for your interest in my art, life, and process. And good luck with your artistic pursuits!

~Michael D. Edens
12/24/2009

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The experience instilled a desire to make art challenges more inclusive and accessible to artists and art patrons. And with that in mind, I’d like to present the culmination of our recent joint effort: “The Artist Challenge!”

The concept is still the same; a theme or topic is proposed, create your own unique work of art and interpretation of the theme, submit your work to the site, and we’ll share the many inspiring perspectives for all the world to see. We even link back to your site so visitors or art patrons can learn more about you and your artwork!

Additionally, we’ll be moderating a knowledgeable and fun filled forum “Dante’s Pub” that will eventually be made private for contributing artists only.

So are you ready to take the art challenge?!

The first challenge has a final due date of February 14th, and the theme is: UNREQUITED LOVE! Perfect for February.

Stop by The Artist Challenge for more information, view previous challenge galleries, register a forum account, and we’ll see you in the Pub!

~Michael
aka Captain Mike

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There is a gamut of emotions they express, extreme details, and some that seem to embody the very essence of words like “beauty”, “evil”, “fun”, and some… I don’t think there are words to express what they are. I’m not consciously controlling the faces, they move, come, and go on their own, but I’ve never seen them before with my eyes open, and I don’t know where they come from.

I drew a picture that echoes the experience.

~Michael
MDE-Art.com

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[KJ] Where are you from?
[MDE] Rochester, Minnesota, USA

[KJ] How old were you when you decided to make a career out of your artwork?
[MDE] Art has always been, and always will be, an important part of my life. I was 12 when I saw Bob Ross painting a landscape on TV, and he introduced art to me as a joyful experience. I have focused on art related careers and creativity ever since.

[JM] How long have you been doing art, and besides Bob Ross who interests you?
[MDE] I have been drawing since I can remember, but it wasn’t until I was 12 or so that I labeled my expressiveness as “art” and myself as an “artist”. In 2008, I turned 28, so my humble interest in “art” has survived for about 16 years. I am interested in many different types of art, but was recently inspired by concept artists Andrew Jones and Justin Kaufman.

[JM] Where did you go to college, and for what?
[MDE] In 1998, I attended New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York NY, with an intended BFA in Film/Television. After attaining Certification for Film/Television Production one year later in 1999, I successfully tested out of the next 3 years worth of Film/Video classes. So I transferred to the Minneapolis College of Art and Design in Minneapolis MN, with an intended BFA in Interactive Design. Then in 2001, I transferred to the University of Minnesota to broaden my educational experience, and graduated in 2003 with a BS in Media Arts & Computer Studies.

[KJ] What inspires you?
[MDE] Originality. I appreciate when people express themselves in a unique way, no matter the art form.

[M] What or Who influences, inspires, and motivates your particular style, in particular your portrait drawings?
[MDE] After learning many “rules” about art in school, I wanted to draw the way I felt like drawing. No expectations, no judgments, no critiques, no financial gain, no commercial success, no concerted artistic development. I wanted to have fun, play, be creative, and see or experience something new. The expressive portrait art was a visual representation of those emotions.

Inspiration was from my life of experiences and a human need for expression. Or sometimes I ask myself “What can I do with this…” both in terms of the reference image and art materials, and then begin…

I like trying new styles, moving paint and ink around the paper in different ways, holding brushes and pens non-traditionally, mixing traditionally un-mixed mediums, using harmonious and dissonant color combinations, and pausing mid-drawing and taking a new direction on a whim.

I used a similar approach with some of my recent abstract portraits and character art. During the Spring season of 2008 I preferred not to work from reference and allow the subject matter to appear and grow organically as I create. I enjoy the quick thinking, and have strived for more physicality in the creation process, mostly by putting as little space as possible between thought and action as I energetically create without stopping. And when I stop, the art is done. Then it’s on to a new drawing.

So in that regard, the portrait drawings, and visual art in general, is a safe and fulfilling activity that allows me to explore the spontaneously creative side of my human nature.

[KJ] Do you have any artist influences in your work at all?
[MDE] Yes. In order to build up a visual vocabulary it was helpful to imitate artists I appreciated. Also, just viewing any other artist’s work affects my own work in some way. Some of the stylistic elements of Franz Kline appear in my abstracts, while Claude Monet and Craig Mullins influenced my impressionistic work. I also drew comics for a while, and the stark black and white pen style and expressive color palettes are a persistent theme.

[KJ] What media do you prefer to work in?
[MDE] My preferences change constantly. Lately I have preferred mixing media such as pen, marker, watercolor, acrylic, colored pencil, and crayon.

[JM] What is your favorite piece of art work, or most passionate piece?
[MDE] I don’t have a favorite. Over time my connection to various types of art or artists changes, whether it’s the work of another artist or my own. I am most passionate about the art I am creating in the moment.

[KJ] What is your theme/concept behind your work?
[MDE] Themes and concepts change constantly as well. I am inspired by many different subjects that I like to express in many different styles. However, I tend to enjoy painting and viewing impressionistic and imaginative art, as it is not so constrained by the rules of the real world in Realism Art nor completely open to the subjectivity of Abstract Art.

[JM] Have you traveled for art, or to do art?
[MDE] After studying classical Renaissance art and architecture in high school and college for years, I decided to see as much of the original art as I could with my own eyes. So I traveled to Italy for 3 weeks, taking in every museum, church, and artwork I could find around Rome, Florence, and the surrounding communities. It was a great experience in many ways, and from an artistic standpoint it helped solidify my understanding of the environment and historical context within which Renaissance art was created.

[KJ] Has your work changed due to other artist influences or things that happened in the world?
[MDE] Yes, all of my experiences influence how I express myself. I often see changes in my style and artwork that I am not always aware of as I am creating, but the changes signify growth, both as an artist and a person. For example, seeing graffiti-style art for the first time inspired bold shapes, vibrant colors, and thick outlining in some of my work.

[KJ] Can you explain what you try to get across from your abstract expressionism paintings? As one who feels most drawn to these, I would like to know and understand more.
[MDE] My abstract art generally expresses an emotion or feeling that is difficult to explain via other forms of communication. Any emotion, or combination of emotions, can be expressed, from wild and energetic, to boring and calm. For example, instead of writing or talking about a unique joy I felt when I started to draw with colored pastels after a long hiatus from color, I drew a series of expressive abstracts with vibrant bursts of color and slight variations in texture. Retrospectively, the drawings were a visual representation of the “Big Bang” of an awaking awareness of color, which has been consistently applied in a more orderly fashion in subsequent artworks. For example, in this colorful drawing of a face or more abstract surreal paintings.

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