Well, Hi!
Welcome to my Art Shop!
I am Michael, and am the 3rd of 4 children, each sibling being successful, engineer, medical assistant, and Housewife, yes, I said housewife. She’s the one you don’t cross.ME? I’m an Artist. We are all about a year and a half separated in age, so “Ma” had her hands full! I guess I have always been an artist, at heart, all my life, starting when I was a toddler. Ma told me that when we were toddlers, she had to make sure when I got up from bed, there was NOTHING that I could grab that would make a mark, because I drew on everything, including my siblings, if they stood still long enough.
My “Problem Child” moniker followed me my entire life, from setting school detention record, for drawing on the desks, to my getting into trouble in my teens and young adult life.
I am a recovering addict of over 35 years, and a cancer survivor of 6 years.
My working life has always revolved around my artistic skills, including printed apparel artist, street painter, graphic designer, and now, art instructor. My love of teaching is only second to my love to create art. I am always a student, and pride myself in that I am quite familiar with many mediums and techniques. I often get asked what my favorite medium is, and I will respond, I really don’t have one, I dig each, and the properties each possess. If I see something I am intrigued by, I am compelled to learn how it’s done, and try to master it, watercolors, pastels, pencil, metal point drawing, oils, colored pencils, etc.
The name of my studio is called “Iron Tent Studio”. The name came from an old family friend who owned a 40’ camper in the north woods of Wisconsin, where my “pop” would take my brother and I to go fishing. Dad’s friend called the trailer, “The Iron Tent”. I live in a mobile home, and named it, you guessed it, “The Iron Tent”, hence, “Iron Tent Studio.”
I hope you enjoy visiting my shop, and if you don’t see what you are looking for, send me a suggestion, and I just might create something just for you!
Best regards,
Michael