How old were you when you first started drawing or painting?
Probably about 10

What influenced you to begin painting?
Well I never really became a full-fledged painter, I was taught the logistics of art, design etc..., but I missed the dealine on a painting class I wanted to take so I just started making it up as I went along and really paying attention to artists old and new and what they were using to get desired effects.

Were your parents supportive?
They didnt disapprove, but I just always kind of did my own thing. Art I came to on my own with a desire to release the hundreds of images I was holding in my head onto something visual.

Who is your biggest influence, both art and non-art related.
I consider ifluences to come from art, artists, films, filmakers, musicians, and literature.
My favorite artists of this current time are Russell Mills, Dave Mckean, Miran Kim, and Robert Rauschenberg.

When you start a painting do you have a picture in mind or NOT
Everything I do is pre-conceived, sketched, planned out and built to a specific concept or purpose. Currently I have enough back-log of ideas put to journal that could keep me producing for the next 20 years.

What materials do you use and why?
In essence Mixed media, in breakdown I use acrylics, watercolors, collage, digital tools, photography, chalk and a little bit of everyhting now and then.

Do you ever work on more that one painting at a time?
Sure, Some things need captured right away, others need a few days to evolve and scrutinize. Somethings well they just don't go the way as planned and need to be labored over a bit, others transform out of some kind of magical place.

Do you think that art is a univeral language - transcending all the different languages, cultures and religions etc?
absolutely, I continually recieve emails from other countries that i have to run a translator over to read......but art needs no words or dialog, just a pair of eyes.

Have you ever begun a project and then decided against it.
Yep, when it starts to come together and ends up looking not up to standards. It's sometimes better to just move on to better things.

Are there somethings you will NOT paint and why?
Yes, not upside down crosses, or obvious "satanic" type of messaging. You can touch upon the subject matter in an intersting way that doesnt promote that kind of thinking.

Does art come from your/the sub-concious?
I suppose it comes from somewhere, but I like to to think of it as my imagination, because I'm not the "dark shadow" that my artwork portrays. But if your passion is art I believe the brain is always thinking in the background of the "next" piece and how to approach it.

Have you ever experienced a "creative high"?
Well that would be the time when work just pours out without dismay and everthing seems to fall into place. But sometimes, I get the feeling like I just want to produce and produce to empty my current bucket of ideas that are brewing.

Have you ever made a living with your art OR as a commercial artist?
Yes, I currently keep pretty busy with a "plethora" of projects....from illustration, to web, to film, to design.

What is your favourite art related web site?
Most are linked off of my site http://www.eyesofchaos.com/

Have you ever collaborated with fellow artists?
Yes, but not too often.....I find they generally can't keep up with me... :)

Do you believe that a person is born with a talent to produce art or can anyone can be taught?
Yes, but I believe more that a person is born with a stronger impulse in their brain to utilize that "creative" side to virtually anything. I believe it's a "special" kind of person and way of thinking that carries forward beyond art class and general skills... it really takes that special "Conviction".

Do you value feedback, either positive or negative?
Yes, it really does help in stepping back a second to re-analyze a work or way of working.
Also it should be taken with a grain of salt, becuase no-one can really get inside your head and what some people enjoy others criticize.

Do you worry about how "good" your work is?
Yes, I am very self-critical and aware when creating.

Do you need others to tell you they like it before you feel validated?
No, that's the freedom of being an artist.

Do you create art for yourself OR for others?
Both. I create images I like to see but also keep a strong nothing of what sells and what others are buying into.

How do you feel when you finish a painting?
Little tiny victories...one after the other.

Do you ever feel "addicted" to painting - like you cannot stop...
I am addicted to producing the type of images I like. I have to be feeling right to really paint.

How do you feel that you (as an artist) see things differently from most people.
Yes, I think perception "is" the art. It's those little ideas that draw you back to the table, to produce something extra special to share with the world. I see into the "dark-side" of art........some people just can't see it that clearly and some people can only repeat what has already been done or what "they have already done. The vision feeds the production of art.

What are your plans for the immediate future and how do you see your art progressing?
I am heading full force into much more illustration work, much more production of CD packages and now currently I am helping in the production of a TV show with the use of motion graphics.

THE END

Thank You Mike

Mike@eyesofchaos.com
www.eyesofchaos.com/
"Specializing in Horrific Visual Realization"