Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael James Cisarik.
Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
It was a truly bizarre experience discovering this. When COVID shutdowns had begun, I had just moved into a new place and was attempting to furnish it. I had a particular taste and mindset on what I wanted but couldn’t find anything that really resonated with me (and importantly, was reasonably priced).
After looking for months with no luck, I decided to ask a good friend, who is incredibly artistic, to do an abstract piece for me. After watching her progress and seeing the final product, I really wanted to try it – and I had more wall space to fill. So I told myself, why not try? It turns out, after a few pieces, friends reached out and wanted one for themselves. Almost a year later, I have done over 100 custom works for friends, now clients, around the country – from New York, Chicago, to Los Angeles. I currently have about a month waitlist for new clients, and to my excitement, it continues to grow – so the business itself is definitely continuing to evolve as we speak.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been easy… especially during this time of our lives and of this particular industry. I had (and still experience) many challenges along the way. Especially gauging interest for such a discretionary product during a recession/pandemic, it was not an ideal time, but for my own wellbeing, I truly enjoyed doing it, so I really wanted to see where it could go. The fact that I had finally found something that I loved to do – and a talent I didn’t know I had (I have never painted in my life prior to last year), was motivation to throw all I had into this new hobby.
I will say it has been exhausting, but I have not yet felt like I am sacrificing anything. I work my full-time corporate job each day and then paint or reach out to clients at night and on weekends. It is truly a full-on, 24/7 commitment. Getting publicity and traction to generate a client base was difficult – and growing is obviously a continued process to say the least – but just through word of mouth and social media, people continue to find me and enjoy what I am doing. The support of mentors and friends during this time also provided encouragement to keep working, keep trying new techniques, and continue committing time to improve my process. The experience itself is nothing short but life-changing.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I personally consider myself focused entirely on painting abstract art. I always use canvas and alternate (or combine) uses of acrylic and oil paints. What I recently started to do is alter the viscosities of the paints to create a more “fluid” or “uninterrupted” flow of colors and texture. Especially with lighter colored pieces, it almost creates a “smoky” effect and adds depth as you add layers of paint to the piece. I usually tend to stay pretty minimalistic but like to have a few primary accents in the works to draw in your attention – sometimes, these are counterintuitive to the eye and just draw you in further.
Some of the more recent pieces I have done, “Starburst 001” and “Rosalia,” are pieces that are different than where I had traditionally started with (as compared to my neutral and minimal paintings, they are bright, colorful and have a lot of detail). These are the types of paintings that allow the viewer to continue to discover details over time. I think what sets me apart from others is that my style is always evolving. I want to push my own boundaries and the industry itself to see what I can produce that makes myself and others question the norm. I don’t want to paint something that is familiar to people; I want to create something that can be a statement piece and be something so unique that a client can truly resonate with it and hold it for a lifetime. Now with that, while I say I consider myself to be committed to painting abstract art, maybe it doesn’t stay that way long term. I want to push myself to discover what I am capable of and continue to try new mediums or methods.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Definitely, the obvious one that many of us were forced to learn is that life is short. Enjoy it while you are here and commit yourself to doing something you love. I would be angry and disappointed at myself looking back 20 years from now, imagining what something “could have been”. I would much rather fall short at doing something I love than not try at all. Be true to yourself and find things in your life that you love. Don’t be so focused on a society hyped normality that you get caught up in pursuing what others want from you and not what you want from yourself.
Contact Info:
- Email: commissions.michaeljamesart@gmail.com
- Website: www.MichaelJamesArt.com
- Instagram: @MichaelJames_Art
