Artyczar
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It's time for our Artist's Spotlight for March! Aren't you excited?
This is the third Spotlight feature in the series, and we are very honored to present this short interview with our artist member Michael Beckett, who you might know as mbeckett. Michael's work can most often be found in the "The Next Sketch is..." thread in the Journaling and Sketchbooks Forum. You can see a huge variety of his work there (and many other members' work), as there are over 100 pages to riffle through.
I hope you have as much fun getting to know this significantly prolific and talented artist as I have. So, without further hesitation, on with the questions...
Where did you grow up and where do you live and work now?
I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and I'm now retired from an IT career, living in Calgary Alberta, Canada (neighboring province).
What was your first start in making art?
I am a late starter in the art world. I was always interested, but I am red-green color blind and was advised by school counselors that studying art would be a difficult endeavor. So that was that, until about the year 2000. I started to play with cartoon animation. frustrated with my lack of ability to draw, I started teaching myself and never really looked back. I even paint in color now. Oh, if they could see me now!
Did you go to school or study it?
I mostly taught myself with a few evening art classes and workshops thrown in.
Carousel Ride -16 x 20in acrylic on canvas.
Who were your very first artistic influences and who are your current ones now?
Originally, it was cartoonists as that was what I started with. I was a big fan of Gary Larson (The Far Side) and Jim Unger (Herman). Once I started doing "art proper," I turned to Da Vinci's drawings and all the Impressionists. In particular, Edgar Degas, Van Gogh, and Paul Gaugin.
Colorful Splash of Glass - 11 x 14in acrylic on board.
What is your favorite medium to work in?
I loved to paint in acrylics on canvas mostly until the multiple sclerosis monster got me. Working small suits me much better now, using ink and watercolor. I also like conte and charcoal pencils. Lately, I have fallen in love with fountain pens, and I am experimenting, combining them with alcohol marker. There are other mediums down the pipe that I want to try too. Bouncing around different media is probably not good for art sales but I have fun doing it.
Friday Face Challenge - 6 x 9in fountain pen and marker on Bristol.
Do you have any philosophy regarding the art-making process? If not, can you run us through your process?
I try to challenge myself [in] every piece. Sometimes it's by getting technically better at something. Sometimes it's by achieving a certain look. My favorite pieces usually start as some kind of "experiment" along those lines. It makes the process that much more enjoyable and playful, and isn't that what it is about in the first place?
Baby Chimpanzee - 2.5 x 3.5in ink and watercolor art card.
What are three things you cannot live without (family members excluded)?
- Art
- My computer(s)
- It may be cheating the rules, but I'll say my family in general, who keep me safe from COVID and make life with a chronic disease much more bearable.
If money was no object, what would you buy?
An art supply store (didn't even have to think about this answer!)
Figure Study - 6 x 9in charcoal pencil on Bristol.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
If anyone reading this thinks they can't make art by default, then try it! Everyone has it in them. If you don't try, you'll never know! ...and thanks, Arty! I am honored to be in the spotlight here!
Links:
Michael's website: BeckettArtandDesign.com
Instagram: @beckettartanddesign
Facebook
We'd like to thank Michael, very much, for participating this month.
This is the third Spotlight feature in the series, and we are very honored to present this short interview with our artist member Michael Beckett, who you might know as mbeckett. Michael's work can most often be found in the "The Next Sketch is..." thread in the Journaling and Sketchbooks Forum. You can see a huge variety of his work there (and many other members' work), as there are over 100 pages to riffle through.
I hope you have as much fun getting to know this significantly prolific and talented artist as I have. So, without further hesitation, on with the questions...
Where did you grow up and where do you live and work now?
I was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and I'm now retired from an IT career, living in Calgary Alberta, Canada (neighboring province).
What was your first start in making art?
I am a late starter in the art world. I was always interested, but I am red-green color blind and was advised by school counselors that studying art would be a difficult endeavor. So that was that, until about the year 2000. I started to play with cartoon animation. frustrated with my lack of ability to draw, I started teaching myself and never really looked back. I even paint in color now. Oh, if they could see me now!
Did you go to school or study it?
I mostly taught myself with a few evening art classes and workshops thrown in.
Carousel Ride -16 x 20in acrylic on canvas.
Who were your very first artistic influences and who are your current ones now?
Originally, it was cartoonists as that was what I started with. I was a big fan of Gary Larson (The Far Side) and Jim Unger (Herman). Once I started doing "art proper," I turned to Da Vinci's drawings and all the Impressionists. In particular, Edgar Degas, Van Gogh, and Paul Gaugin.
Colorful Splash of Glass - 11 x 14in acrylic on board.
What is your favorite medium to work in?
I loved to paint in acrylics on canvas mostly until the multiple sclerosis monster got me. Working small suits me much better now, using ink and watercolor. I also like conte and charcoal pencils. Lately, I have fallen in love with fountain pens, and I am experimenting, combining them with alcohol marker. There are other mediums down the pipe that I want to try too. Bouncing around different media is probably not good for art sales but I have fun doing it.
Friday Face Challenge - 6 x 9in fountain pen and marker on Bristol.
Do you have any philosophy regarding the art-making process? If not, can you run us through your process?
I try to challenge myself [in] every piece. Sometimes it's by getting technically better at something. Sometimes it's by achieving a certain look. My favorite pieces usually start as some kind of "experiment" along those lines. It makes the process that much more enjoyable and playful, and isn't that what it is about in the first place?
Baby Chimpanzee - 2.5 x 3.5in ink and watercolor art card.
What are three things you cannot live without (family members excluded)?
- Art
- My computer(s)
- It may be cheating the rules, but I'll say my family in general, who keep me safe from COVID and make life with a chronic disease much more bearable.
If money was no object, what would you buy?
An art supply store (didn't even have to think about this answer!
)Figure Study - 6 x 9in charcoal pencil on Bristol.
Is there anything else you would like to share with us?
If anyone reading this thinks they can't make art by default, then try it! Everyone has it in them. If you don't try, you'll never know! ...and thanks, Arty! I am honored to be in the spotlight here!
Links:
Michael's website: BeckettArtandDesign.com
Instagram: @beckettartanddesign
We'd like to thank Michael, very much, for participating this month.
