About
I've drawn and painted for over 55 years and I've been commissioned many times as well as sold my art in Nuance Galleries, now closed. You can see my new and old art at www.7-Mike-King.pixels.com. I taught watercolor both in the studio and en plein aire like the Impressionists. I have a studio in my home or I can come to yours. I'm having a one man show this May at the main library in downtown Tampa and at the Teco office lobby area July-August. If you like wild colors and shapes you'll really dig the way I paint them as abstracts. Everyone is an artist in some way but doesn't know it. My goal as a teacher is to help each student come to see that realisation.
With abstracts I like the accidents that happen as I pour on the paint and move it around by tilting the board, blowing on it with a straw or hairdryer. Then I find a place to stop painting and allow the paint to blend on its own. The difficulty is in knowing when to quit before you obscure the image. With my representational works I try to achieve a high degree of realism but I still want the viewer to know its a painting. I enjoy getting the values designed to get the viewer to look where I want them to look.
Highlights
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I find out what they need to work on first, what medium they want to learn, what books they should read, and their aesthetic goals. I want to know why they want to paint, what they want to paint, and plan their course from there.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I studied oil painting, design, composition, and life drawing in college. I'm self taught in watercolors and acrylics. I have taken art seminars over the years to learn new techniques and gain knowledge from more experienced artists. I am a certified Therapeutic Art life coach and I have been giving private and group lessons since 2017.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $25.00 for a 60-90 minute lesson. The first lesson is free.
How did you get started teaching?
i began teaching through Pearl Art Supplies when they had a retail store here and I started teaching one-on-one and group art classes in 2017.
What types of students have you worked with?
I've worked with children, teens, adults, and older folk.
Describe a recent event you are fond of.
l love en plein aire painting in the local parks, by the water, and in urban areas because it's a challenge to make a painting while you're looking at the scene you want to paint. In the end, it's not getting a photographic likeness, it's about your feelings and reactions toward that scene that can make it art.
What advice would you give a student looking to hire a teacher in your area of expertise?
Go to the art museums and libraries to find artists that inspire you. Look at a lot of art, all kinds, then pick out which artist means the most to you and one that you want to influence your work. Look at my art site www.7-Mike-king.pixels.com.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
They need to ask themselves:
-What do I need to work on first? Drawing? Color mixing? Basic designs? What mediums do I want to learn? Do I like landscapes? Seascapes? Portraits? Realism? Abstraction? Am I willing to work? Do I want to be an artist?