Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Wooten.
Hi Michael, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
As far back as I can remember, I have been creative. When I was younger I was obsessed with animation, specifically Disney animation. I spent a huge part of my childhood watching and drawing as many Disney characters as possible. In fact, it was comic strips that got me started. My friends and I had started tracing comic book characters. After a little bit I wanted to see if I could do it without tracing. The first attempt was horrible, but it sparked something in me and I became determined to draw on my own. Eventually I did manage to draw something decent. From that point on I was creating constantly.
When I got to college, I discovered painting and Never really turned back. About twenty years ago I started tking my art seriously and started showing my art in galleries and shows where ever I could. Along the way I discovered oil paint and I feel that oils took my art to the next level.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Nothing is ever really a smooth road, there are always bumps along the way. The biggest struggle that I have had lately was while I was going through a divorce. It was a time when I need art the most, but I as unable to create. It took a long time to get back to making art and I found that my subject matter had changed. Before my art was more focused on protest, and while it’s still there, it’s now more personal. It’s about me processing my divorce.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I usually do figurative or portrait work. I like to combine the figure with abstract backgrounds or collage work. To me, every piece is different. Often when I get stuck on a painting, I will let my subconscious help me find the solution. I will find myself watching videos, or looking at books, or my surroundings and I often will find the solution. Like there was one piece that I was stuck on. I was painting a nude figure and I was struggling with the proportions, I had covered part of the figure with white paint so that I could come back and repainting the figure, but as I was waiting for the paint to dry, I was watching the news and I saw a bunch of bombed out buildings. Later in the day I saw an image of a penguin, and then it hit me, paint a bombed out building and some penguins on top of the figure. It worked.
Sometimes I find out the meaning of the painting after I have finished the piece. I had one where I had drawn ocean waves. I wanted to add the hand from the thin ice sign coming up from the water, but that didn’t feel right. Later I found some old keys at an antique shop and I glued one to the piece with some college work. Later I found out that when Palestinians left their homes they brought keys with them for when they were able to return home. And it hit me, that’s what my piece was about.
As far a what I am most proud of, it’s the fact that I am able to create art that says something.
My style is what sets me apart from others. I am often told that people can instantly tell that a painting is mine. And that I have something to say. I think that resonates with people.
What were you like growing up?
When I was little I was a lot more outgoing. I wanted to be an actor or comedian. I wanted to be like Robin Williams or John Ritter. But as I got older, there was a girl that said that she would like me if I wasn’t so weird, and I immediately stopped, I became introverted. I hated that I was seen as weird. I think that it was shortly after that that I started focusing more on art. So I became the quiet kid that sat in the back of the class drawing all the time. In high school I even started eating my lunch in the art room. A friend called me the art room hermit. Now that I am older, I am starting to come back out of my shell more.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wootenart.portfoliobox.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wootenart/
