This week’s artist’s spotlight focuses on Mike Maydak, whose style and choice of colors will hypnotize you!
The Artist’s Spotlight is a Hypable weekly feature that will focus on someone who has caught our attention for fandom-related art, whether it be drawings, songs, crafts, or more! Every week you can expect a new talented artist we think you should be aware of!
Hypable: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Mike: I’m 5’9″, blue eyes, have a bald head that God shaves half for me, and I’m ideally around 182 but currently at a happy and content 195. I do art because I’m good at it, enjoy being good at it, and people give me money for it. I also enjoy working out, and my lifetime goal is to bench press twice my body weight. I’ve come close before, but I better get to it soon. Not getting any younger.
What first interested you in art?
I was always good at it as a kid. My mom was an artist and I was really influenced by that. But my interest in art faded while in high school. Didn’t get back into it until later. The girl I was dating went into the art program at the college we were at. Kinda followed her into it. The whole thing really got started when I was drawing cartoon strips for her of this finger puppet monkey she bought for me. Kinda cute really. I turned the idea into a comic strip that got published at the school paper and syndicated nationally. Anyway, she dumped me and I went on to become the popular and successful artist she always wanted to be.
You have such a vibrant and unique style. Where did that come from and who influenced you?
My style is a fusion of impressionism and the graphic nature of the comics I enjoy. I studied Cezanne in my painting classes in college and leaned heavy on what I learned. The hard edge flair often gets confused with a graffiti influence, but comes more for my love for the many comic illustrators in the European market, mainly Azpiri, Meglia, Cassegrain and — indirectly though others — Moebius.
Can you tell us a bit about your process?
It starts with a sketch. My paintings are generally always a one by three format, so sometimes I bring the sketch into photoshop and force it into that ratio. I then grid the sketch and transfer it on a pre-painted canvas via a China marker. From there I block out colors and make detail adjustments with paint and paint markers. The finished painting is a combination brush, palette knives, paint markers, and ink brush pens, sometimes more of one than the other depending on the painting.
What’s the biggest challenge you face when you create some of your work?
Myself. I love to dick around. Battlefield 1943 is my crutch. I’m RedslugT34 on the PS network. Come get me.
Sci-fi themes feature heavily in your art. What are some of your favorite characters to paint?
Star Wars is my favorite. Its kinda strange really. I think my interest really lies in the sense of nostalgia I get from it. I don’t really care about any new stuff coming out. I just like the connection with the fascination I had as a kid. I know I’m not the only one.
Do you go to a lot of conventions? What’s your favorite thing about them?
I do lots. Like 25 a year. I know some others that do even more. I don’t think I really have a favorite thing about them. I enjoy meeting people that like my work, seeing my other artist friends, seeing cosplay eye candy, and making money. But I more or less despise them in a general sense. I’ve been going to cons for almost 17 years in some capacity. I developed a curmudgeon “urgh” attitude a bit as well as a strange addiction to them. The kind of addiction where you feel the need for it, but the high isn’t what it used to be. I’m a Comic-Con burnout I guess. With that I said, I still really enjoy it…I think. I’m conflicted.
| “Star Wars is my favorite. Its kinda strange really. I think my interest really lies in the since of nostalgia I get from it. I don’t really care about any new stuff coming out. I just like the connection with the fascination I had as a kid. I know I’m not the only one.” |
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Have you had any memorable responses to your work?
This little kid in Denver spent nearly 50 bucks on a Skyrim piece I did. He said it took him nearly six months to save that much money. I felt really honored, and a bit horrified that he spent six months of his savings on one of my prints.
What advice would you give to other artists?
Math is important. Be good at math. You may be a great artist, but if you suck at math, chances are your art career will suck too.
What’s your ultimate goal as an artist?
I asked that a lot of myself, and I have no idea. Just as long as I’m making stuff, I think I will be happy. There are things I like to do, but if I never do them, I don’t think I’ll be too upset. As long as I don’t die penniless, homeless, and with a nasty case of syphilis (like all the good ones did).
You can find Mike’s work on his website, where he has many of his fan works posted, along with some original artwork as well!
Additionally, you can connect with him on Facebook to see his process firsthand as he works his way through his latest projects.
