Michail is a well-adjusted artist who was taught a very important thing by his Dad “respect the freedom of being an artist”. Mihail obviously took this advice to heart because his art has no boundaries. He mixes styles and techniques to develop alluring textures that are almost cinematic in appearance. Mihail cherishes the fact that he grew up in a home where art ran rampant and his early art memories from childhood which embedded somewhere in his head sometimes mysteriously appear in his work today. Mihail speaks with a self assurance that is both determined and unselfish. It is clear that Mihail’s future is very bright and we look forward to hearing more about this true gem of an artist.
“I haven’t really thought about life like that, but inner peace and …”
Please tell us a little about yourself – your childhood, siblings, where you grew up, what you liked as a child, strange thoughts as a child/now, unique attributes, where you live now, etc.? What is your earliest art memory?
I was born in artistic and creative surroundings. My father and my grandfather were established artists so my first art memory is also my first memory of a home. I literally grew up in my father’s studio, so even before I could walk I was crawling on my fours on dried dripped paint on the floor. It was like walking and growing up through an abstract painting – that is probably my earliest art memory. My mother was a fashion model and later a fashion designer. In many cases she was a muse for my father and often posed for my father as a model. Often sitting in the studio she did all kinds of different poses with her hands, hair, etc. These memories are probably locked within my mind and can also be partially seen in my paintings. Except for the usual children toys, my father’s big studio was my biggest playground. The studio had everything – sharpies were everywhere, tons of colors in various packaging, different kinds of drawing paper, canvases, sketches, art books, the smell of turpentine and stand oils – the thought of this erupts all senses, it was a place to learn and explore, and it still is.
How do you describe your form of art and how did you develop your art style?
My vision for art has been changing during the years, but I’ve always liked portrait drawings and paintings, it is of course a combination of various art styles, artists, memories etc. I didn’t necessarily develop my style on purpose; my style is basically an expressed synthesis of my collective inspiration and imagination. I remember as a youngster I really didn’t like abstraction, I couldn’t understand it; it looked so gimmicky to me. But as the years passed, I really started to love and appreciate those works. It is a visual feeling from the almost perfect minimal to the controlled accidental outburst of hue emotions. In some of my paintings today you can definitely see those abstract blasts and backgrounds that blend with my figurative side. Art like everything else is a never ending learning process.
The color in my works is sometimes fauvistic, wild and intensive, and often the complementary mergers of the colorings, posted one by another, shape the form suggesting the third dimension. In my works some frozen action is happening – on some we can identify which is the action of the main actors (musicians), and on the others (because they are in imaginary and undefined areas), we can only presuppose it in accordance to our individual feeling (sadness, rage, resignation, questions, fear, cry etc.). My portraits display restrained reaction and impression which emphasize the characteristic dimension of the particular individual and the psychological insight of her/his soul.
What messages are you trying to convey with your art?
My art is a mostly visual experience. I think the biggest impact that can translate as a message to others is to inspire someone to create, to dream and do the things that he is best in. A great artist is the one that can best express him or herself.
What philosophy do you live by and what is your ultimate aspiration?
I haven’t really thought about life like that, but inner peace and freedom are up there. I used to think that happiness is the ultimate goal in life, but I think inner peace, attitude, and standing strong behind your ideas is more important to achieve. It is more stable. Pursuit of happiness is a never ending loop. I guess I mean doing the things that you are truly passionate about – it’s a far more satisfying feeling in life as a whole than any other material things. On the road of life those little bites of happiness will come on their own. So to live my whole life as an artist and enjoying the process would be bliss.
How do you think art can change the world we live in for the better?
How can art change the world? Art is a feeling, an idea, an inspiration, it is a dream, an imagination, an exploration, art is real, and it’s hard to imagine how art cannot change the world for the better. Imagination is far from logic, though one without the other will create nothing. Can you imagine the world without the art in it? – The cars, the buildings, the clothes, the machines, the inventions, what would they look like? It would be a pretty grey picture I think.
Which artist/s do you look up to the most?
There are many artists that I like and they differ a lot, and then again most of my favorite artists are nothing like my style. In my works I like to mix styles and techniques – like colors and outer lines of fauvism, abstract backgrounds with some pop art elements and maybe throw in some hyper-realistic moments. One of the paintings that inspired me to do what I do today was “Stare” from Jenny Saville. Although many have had a big impact on my work, the artist that I most look up to is the artist that I grew up with, my father. He taught me many things about creating art, but most of all he guided me on how to respect the freedom of being an artist.
Other than art, what other profession would you like to attempt if you had the time and resources?
Music. It is an absolute second choice for me. I compose music and play guitar when I have the time, but it is just a very passionate hobby for now.
Who dead or alive, celebrity or not, artist or not, would you like to go on a two week road trip with and why?
Tesla, I would love to listen to his ideas, and see his experiments. Alive- Richard Branson or Elon musk, if I stay with them for two weeks i may be able to convince them to take me on those space jets for a ride. I just love space science.
Since Style.No.Chaser is a men’s lifestyle magazine, what attributes/items/clothing /etc. do you think define a man?
These days men wear everything, and that’s okay I guess, because clothes don’t define a man. Clothes define a different style, an attitude, and there are many different kinds of men out there. As for me I like to dress casual – jeans, jackets, sneakers.
How can people learn more about your current and upcoming projects?
They can follow me on Facebook, Instagram and my Website.
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