French Fries, Fl. State Fair, 2022, 2022

Mike King  

Artist Statement:

I have been drawing and painting for over 60 years. My mother recognized my talent and encouraged me to become an artist. She got me a set of tube watercolors, brushes and paper when I was 8 years old and a catalog of Currier & Ives lithographs to copy. They were a challenge and I still have a framed painting in watercolor of one of their lithos. Watercolor is my medium of choice followed by acrylic. In my opinion, no other painting medium can match watercolor in brilliance of color, light reflection, atmospheric effects and speed in application. I'm still learning how to paint in this medium.

I was born in 1952 in San Antonio, Texas. A few years later my family moved to Maryland where I was educated. We lived in Herald Harbor, a small resort town on the Severn River. Later we moved to Cumberland, Maryland in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Both places helped me develop a love for painting the land, sea, sky, mountains, and boats. Art is my passion and drawing and painting is my way of expressing it. I believe that all people are born with an innate need to create something, whether it's an art form or non-art form. Our lives would be a very dreary place without art. 

In 1973 I moved to the Tampa Bay Area and have lived here ever since. I began painting watercolors in my spare time and after a hundred or so paintings I felt confident enough to show them. I was represented in art galleries in Tampa, Sarasota, and St. Petersburg and received numerous commissions. My paintings and drawings have been collected by private individuals, corporations, and local government operations. Most of my paintings are inspired by the beautiful scenery in Florida, it's people, its beaches, skies and industries that use the water. I also worked on creating purely abstract images for awhile but now I stick to representational art.

Education:

Formal education in drawing and oil painting, Allegany College, Cumberland, Md.
Undergraduate studies in Latin American art, University of South Florida, Tampa, Fl.
Self taught in watercolor and acrylic painting

Awards & Distinctions:

2009-Best of Show in watercolor, Fl. State Fair
2021-Best of show in Watercolor, Tampa Realistic Artists

Exhibitions:

Solo show-Tampa Electric public art gallery, 2018
Solo show-Tampa main library art gallery, 2017
Group show-Tampa Realistic Artists, 2021

Artistic Influences:

The major artistic influences on me are the realism of Andrew Wyeth, Edward Hopper, and William Hook. I love to look at impressionist art for its looseness and freshness. In watercolor I have learned much from Tony Couch, Edgar Whitney, and Frank Webb.

Tags:

boats, landscapes, seascapes, beaches, florida, people