Conversations with Michael Artis

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Artis.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Since my childhood, I was always known as the best artist. Everyone would call me “Artis The Artist”. I’d win every art contest I’d entered, won congressional awards, and whether I liked it or not, my mom would always hang my art up around the apartment. By the time I was 17, I was extremely outgoing and my energy was aromatic. I wasn’t always like this.

During freshman year, I was the depressed, awkward kid sketching silently in the back of the class. Around this time, my dad put me in art classes outside of school with local artist, Bonnie Brown. Over the years, I felt like I outgrew the class. I got cocky and felt like I was ahead of everyone. This arrogance followed me in school, as well. A creative black male in a predominately white, education-based school was, and still is, is a rarity.

The other black kids would all link up to play 2k and hoop, while Id stay home to create masterpieces on the floor. I owned who I was, and that energy was addictive. While dealing with newfound popularity in school, I was facing a plethora of struggles at home. My parents have been divorced, ever since I could remember. My mom lived off social security and my dad has been building his photography business my whole life.

My mom’s mental and physical health was declining. She was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 7 and bipolar schizophrenia when I was 15. My brother was off to college, and as a teen, I always wanted to be out with friends. I didn’t give her much of my time. Her health was hard for me to handle and I saw my friends as an escape. I always thought mothers were nurturers, so I didn’t know what I was doing when that responsibility was placed on me.

Especially, when I’m preparing for my next step in life… College. At the time, I had an art teacher named Mr. Briscoe. He and my old art teacher, Mr. Klausing, wanted me to go to art school. I was hesitant, but they even raised money for me to get art supplies. I was quiet to Briscoe. I’d listen to what he’d have to say, but I always thought in the back of my mind there was nothing he could teach me.

I came home from work one night and immediately got to studying. My mom was in her room silent. Which was odd. She typically greets me with a bubbling smile, loud kiss, and frail hug. That night, I only saw her once when she walked straight into the bathroom without saying a word. I didn’t speak either. About an hour later she wobbles back into her room. No words by either of us.

I was confused but got back to studying. As I head to bed, I got a text that says “I love you”. The next day at school, I get a call from a family friend. She told me my mom was in the ICU. I immediately rushed to the hospital, my brother headed back from college. She was hooked up to a breathalyzer. Her appearance was lifeless. I went through a week of ICU visits. One night, at 3 AM, we get a call to rush to the hospital. I walk into the room and immediately fall to my knees and cry out as hard as I could.

The nurses were attempting to resuscitate my nurturer. I heard bones and saw blood splatter with every resuscitation attempt. Some doctor was on a monitor overseeing my mom’s life. He failed, and little did he know this moment would change me forever. I laid on my mother’s solid, cold, lifeless corpse for a few minutes. Left the hospital and lost a life of my own.

The day after my mom passed, I went to Mr. Briscoe’s class to get my belongings. He was in the hallways talking to other teachers and asked how my mom was doing. I didn’t say anything and rushed into class. Tears were pouring down my face. He walked in and embraced me. I didn’t know for how long, but the bell rang and students were walking in.

I went from all A’s and B’s to struggling to get C’s. It was like I was hearing a frequency 24/7. I was out of it. My grades declined. I tried to work on art, but all my inspiration vanished. My mom always praised my art like it was a Basquiat or Wiley piece. She supported my dreams.

Mr. Briscoe tried to keep me in line while I was falling out. I appeared together, but only because I found different avenues to cope, like partying. I sought adventure more than I sought art. Eventually, I neglected my passion completely. I listened to my dad and didn’t apply to art school. I was promised a 75%- full ride by an art school, but I went to KU, instead.

I treated Mr. Briscoe like poorly and I believe he was angry at me for wasting my talent. In college, I learned how to be my own man. I was broke, riding a 20$ bike from the Facebook marketplace to get to and from work and school. No matter how hard I worked, I could never catch up financially. I was 3 months behind the rent. This was when I learned that I never wanted to be this broke ever again.

At this point, art was the last thing on my mind. My creativity was out the window. I repeatedly switch majors: Architecture, Med, Nursing, Psychology. I would drive back out to KC every once and a while. It gave me the little spark of creative hope I needed. I was meeting a bunch of creative people out there, so I decided to take my schooling to UMKC and live with my newfound girlfriend, Caitlyn until I got on my feet.

I still wasn’t creating art, but I was finding myself. I tried out many other creative/business avenues over the years like trading, podcasting, and tattooing, all while working as a valet.

During my last year of college, I came to a realization that life was about to hit. My time was running out. I went through 5 years of schooling to recognize that it was all pointless for me. I didn’t like anything. None of the classes, internships, or salaries impressed me. On top of this, Covid made me realize that everything can go without any notice. All I needed was a breakthrough moment. I needed something to call out to me.

Then, I went to Atlanta for the first time. I went to a friend’s baby shower but got an experience that’d change my life. A couple of hours into the shower, I turn my head and see Lil Yachty walk in the door. This felt like a moment I needed to take advantage of, somehow. I was a fan, but also, felt the desire to introduce my work to him. The only problem was, that I haven’t created it in years.

The fact that I initially thought about showing him my art resonated with me. I introduced myself and we conversed about art and music. I showed him my old work and business card. He told me my work was dope! Which was an insane moment for me, but then he told me that I needed to keep myself up to date. He got me in contact with his manager. This was the moment I needed. My creative drive recirculated.

After 4 years of no creative inspiration, I pick up the paintbrush as soon as I get home and get to work. I beg a friend to buy a painting, to get money into my business. After this, I get no commissions. I create a painting for myself to visualize my story. The painting is called “Grow”.

Then, commissions start rolling in. Once I had 3 commissions under my belt, I quit my job and go for the dream full force. I lost many relationships during this journey. A lot was holding me back in life and I had to peel off the shell, sit in silence and paint to realize what I really need out of life. I had been needing this for years.

Now as a businessman and artist, it’s my duty to share my story to show that it’s possible. The obstacles I had to face happened for a reason. I’m chosen. I was broken down in every way and found my rebuild. I shed a whole layer and came out completely new.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have an intense admiration for creatives who can successfully run a business. I believe they can rule the world. The concept of creativity and business is the strongest inverse relationship I can think of. It’s worse than oil and water. To create calls for lots of time, solidarity, and emotion towards work. Business is a fast game, where you make a lot of beneficial relationships and avoid too much emotion.

With this in mind, my art career has been far from a smooth road, but it’s a beautiful journey. I had to pull off the work of an artist, businessman, director, marketer, manager, assistant, graphic designer, content creator, and many more just to get to where I am today.

On top of this, I had to prove my worth. My art wasn’t always selling for 1000s. I had to go through a period of selling masterpieces in the low to mid-hundreds. To make this work out financially, meant that I had to paint 2 large sale paintings a week or 3 to 5 smaller scales a week to live a comfortable lifestyle.

At least $600 a week on average was my goal because that’s what I was making valeting. This was not easy. I’ve painted 100+ paintings since October 2020. I’ve only painted 4 so far in 2022. That’s a lot of paintings in a short time, but this also shows how much I’ve learned I’ve time.

Add a few key lessons, I’ve learned are to make everything as easy and efficient as possible for a customer, create amazing content to sell your brand, and don’t put your faith in anyone to do anything for you. Take other’s words with a grain of salt, until what they say actually happens!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Art is only the beginning of my journey.

I want to be one of the greats. I want to be part of changing the world. I’m in the beginning stages of my career where all the paintings I’ve created have been commissions, besides 3. But those 3 originals belong in museums. The owners invested at a great time. I’m using my financial backing from the commissions to primarily paint more Artis Originals this year.

My art is very futuristic. We’re in a time of confusion, which typically calls for immense change. This change is seen societally, politically, and economically. My work is open to interpretation, but my newest projects are next-level contemporary works. I just have to put them on the canvas!

I’m most known for my colorful portraiture. I’ve been painting a lot of important black figures. I gained a huge following on Tiktok from this @artistheartist I’m proud that I was able to become a freelance artist in such a short period of time. I feel like this was my calling and people immediately flocked to support me.

I’m different from others by how I present myself. I’m quiet, with a lot on my mind. I present myself as flashy, but I’m reserved. Ideas soar through my head at lightning speed, but it’s hard for me to communicate them. It’s more than just art for me.

What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
There are a lot of innovations in the art world such as the advancement of NFTs and social media. We’re becoming a technological world and art is following that front.

In 5-10 years, I believe a trend will be virtual galleries, art owned and showcased through social media, and an influx in the architecture and graphic design fields. I think we’re nearing a modern renaissance and artists are about to be at the forefront.

Pricing:

• My commissions begin at $1000
• Prints begin at $14 at MichaelArtis.com.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Michaelartis.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelartisma/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/michaelartisma/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/michaelartisma
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCid0G1DYRudDyojyM06YirA
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@artistheartist

Image Credits
Jason Thompson and Caitlyn Wilson