How do you describe what you do?
I carve Lino to form Printworks generated from original hand drawn sketches. They to me are Wisdom Keepers, with messages, I interpret the messages in a way that is meaningful to me and find boundless intrigue and enjoyment in hearing what others see in these designs. I am always here to hear what you see. There’s a richness in this to me.
How did you get started on this journey?
I began sketching again in 2018, primarily to make sense of a world that was quickly becoming senseless to me. What I found in taking a couple of hours a day to do this was a serene place of calm that felt like a bridge between two worlds. One where something could be met and bought back. Thats as close a description as I can find to explain this sensation. It’s the same when I’ve had the opportunity to watch artists paint live - there’s a feeling of something much deeper going on and I race towards this sense.
What makes your work and/or process unique?
I feel it’s no more unique than any other form of expression. There’s beauty when people sing and dance and create - it’s the honesty of it that’s enjoyable. I greatly enjoy that I get to be the one who gets to be part of the process in seeing what comes through me birthed into the world. It’s a gift to me to be able to see the first print off the roller and watch a sketch form in bewilderment at something looking back at me that came from within.
What other artists or makers do you admire? Why?
Initially I was drawn to artists where I sensed a mystery to their work, that sense called to something in me to begin my own journey and explore my own depths and what’s accessible to me through art. Since joining the space my fellow makers are a big source of my inspiration in the way they show up to what they do, I see the person in the creation now - not just an object and that’s a revelation that enriches me. I see something of who they are and their life in their work, there’s an unspoken intimacy to this, I feel, that is naturally safe and I feel proud to be surrounded and work with these people.
When you have the dreaded creative block, where do you get your ideas and inspiration from?
I’ve not experienced this as yet as I’m working through a back log of sketches from 2018 so there’s always a freshness and excitement. When I’ve felt burnt out from over working, certainly rest has been a big help, and time in places where I feel most myself - I was told recently there’s a word for this translated from a language I’ve now forgotten called “your wild strawberry garden” so time in my wild strawberry gardens is perfect.
What advice/tips would you give to someone who is interested in starting what you do?
Don’t be concerned with what someone else would like, my experience tells me that out of 30 people maybe 2 people in the outside world will hold a specific interest towards what we do. Do it for you, for the joy and allow the unique wisdom and expression of the life you are to find it’s way into your art. No pressure. And join us here, there’s a warm welcome and ever unfolding continued support in the simplicity of being interested in what each other are doing and connecting through shared joy.
Are there any books or exhibitions you would recommend?
Anam Cara by John O’Donohue, it’s not an artistic book specifically but the words within read to me like honey with my favourite quote being “may you see in what you do the beauty of your own soul” which speaks greatly to how I see this work in myself and others.
What made you feel like, "yes this is something I want in my life"?
I searched for sometime to find a way to turn my sketches into prints, the people I’ve got to know and what I had to bring into the space affirm to me that I found the Linocut process at the right time and since discovering this I haven’t seen myself stop. I love seeing the prints become what they were meant to be as they transition from the sketches they began life as. So, it’s easy for me to see that I want this in my life by my actions and that it is part of my life. Learning this process was the key to the door I already knew I was looking for in some way.
Where do you want to see yourself in the future with this journey? Do you want this to be a long term?
I am working in tandem to produce prints for market with the question “what do you see?” - beyond financial reward, when someone wishes to keep a piece, this is the biggest source of nourishment for me in the work - it’s something I feel as a vehicle for me as I travel through life to learn at a deeper level what's most important in others and where we may have walked when our feet haven’t touched the ground. I am also working on a beautiful book - there will be a series of 10 wisdom keepers each with a poem visited by my main character - the King Amongst The Flowers. This is a beautiful project to me and allows me to connect with the beauty he sees and I see in the world and focus it in within poetry and feeling. Beyond these two I’d like to refine my technical skill in capturing peoples facial features so that I can incorporate them into the style of drawings I do, woven with what I see In them that makes them shine - this wouldn’t be for financial reward, more as a stepping stone in life so you always know how much beauty you have to share and how much we all need each of that to shine in this world.
Do you do this as a hobby? Work? Side hustle?
I don’t like the word hobby towards what I do here. There’s a sense of devotion I’ve discovered that is beyond a casual interest, This I feel is very much my work and my Joy.
What piece of work or project are you most proud of? If you have a picture of it please send it if you feel comfortable!
I’m over joyed to see all of the prints! To Hold.. embellished with white ink stands out to me visually - I love the way it pops - and for what it has represented on this journey.. It was the first print that was chosen to be purchased which was a huge supportive milestone for me along this road. I also feel that on a creative journey a gift comes through to assist the path along and this would be that on this path to me. To keep me going, to support and to hold..
Why is Colchester Makerspace important to you/or and your work?
The Makerspace linked closely with Patch has been the end of a search for me in what I most value in community - informality, trust, respect, care, kindness, safety, support, a place to truly be the self and there’s a hidden something that can only be felt, not spoken, that all of us play a part in creating. It’s magic and to me it’s been like being out in the sun. I’ve loved every second I’ve spent within these walls.
Mikey’s work will be on display and available to buy from July 9th at Patch in front of the Makerspace at Trinity Works.
Below is Mikey’s socials where you can see more of his pieces and contact him with any interest of purchasing!