Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Lee.
Mike, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I remember the exact moment when my life took a turn down the path of a traditional fine artist. Having recently immigrated from South Korea, I was in Kindergarten and didn’t know how to speak English very well. The assignment in front of me was to fill in a horse in a coloring book. Having a full range of beautiful crayons before me, I carefully colored the body in a navy blue and the mane and tail in a lavish purple. Unfortunately, my teacher didn’t agree so much with my color choices, as the instructions were to color it brown and black. After my chastisement, my path down the abstract expressionist road was closed for good. True story.
All joking aside, I’m not sure when it all started but I do remember drawing all the time as a kid, along with my sisters and brother. Back then, it was all about dinosaurs, sharks, and video game characters which later developed into a greater interest in the human figure, portraiture and moody environments. I actually didn’t take any art classes till my junior year in high school when I was fast-tracked into the AP Art class (spoilers: I failed the end-of-year portfolio review!). To be honest, I didn’t even want to go into art as a profession when I was younger because I thought it would make me lose my passion for it and it would just become a “job.” And, yeah, sometimes it is, but, man, is making art more fun than sitting in front of a desk doing something that means absolutely nothing to me personally.
It took a few years after high school for me to figure out that art is my calling in life and since then, I’ve been working to improve my craft and make something worthwhile. I ended up focusing on illustration and received my BFA from Brigham Young University – Idaho back in 2013. After a few years of working freelance in illustration and building my fine art career, I’m currently back in school working on my MFA in Painting at the Laguna College of Art and Design. Not only do I want to sell art, but I do want to teach as well, as it really is a rewarding experience to see young artists find their voice. My younger self probably wouldn’t believe these words coming out of my mouth, but being in school is really fun!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
There have definitely been challenges on the path I’ve chosen. Honestly, there have been multiple times when I’ve wanted to quit and choose an “easier,” or at least, more straightforward career. Being an artist isn’t just about knowing how to draw and paint, but it requires a person to have strong time management, networking and marketing skills, guts, initiative, perseverance, and some luck, which aren’t things that all artists are blessed with. Trying to learn and juggle all of these things can be daunting and it’s a constant struggle to try make it all work.
Also, I do suffer with depression from time to time and it can really drain the creative juices. During those periods, I really struggle just with the voice in my own head that creates self-doubt and makes me feel that I’m not good enough. There have been times when I don’t even want to look at any artwork – mine or others – and I can’t produce anything worthwhile. Fortunately, these moments are pretty far and few in between. I mean, it’s definitely not fun a fun experience, but I am grateful that these struggles have taught me to have more empathy for others.
Please tell us more about your art.
Really, it’s all about telling a story and creating a feeling that hopefully resonates with my audience. My work is primarily done in oil paint, focusing on portraits, figures, and urban settings as my subject matter. That doesn’t mean there’s always a specific narrative, deeper meaning, or social commentary. It could just be about what this combination of shapes, lines, and colors that happen to combine to create an image of a street does to your individual psyche. Does a scene of cars stuck at a red light at sunset stir some flutterings of nostalgia, sorrow, or joy? Maybe even anger for those in the L.A. area? Maybe a setting with some empty glasses on a table might not have explicit meaning, but it might make you wonder who was just sitting here? Was he or she alone? With friends? Was it a celebratory occasion or a way to pass an uneventful evening? I’m very curious to know what story or emotion each viewer creates in their own mind because in some ways, an artwork can be like a mirror and offer me a glimpse into the viewer’s life.
I think that’s part of the reason why I tend to lean toward more urban settings in my work rather than rural landscapes and nature. As a friend of mine put it, my pieces have a human element to them even if there are no people in it. There’s always someone’s story that can be pulled from a painting and I’m always pursuing that concept.
Earlier in my career, I did some illustration work with video games, toys, and books, and while I’ll still take on certain illustration projects, I find that oil paintings are so much more personal and intimate. This medium has a certain expressive quality that really needs to be experienced in person and can have almost a sculptural element that you just can’t get from some other forms of art. So, whether I’m working on a private commission or a body of work for a gallery, I just get to put a bit of my soul into each piece I’m working on and it can be very rewarding in that sense.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
I would have to say my family comes first in their support over the years, particularly with my parents. There was never any pressure to conform to any societal norms or go the typical Asian med school route (Stereotyping? Yes. Real? Yes). They just wanted me to follow my dreams and passions, but to also make sure to work hard at it. It’s completely understandable for a poor immigrant family such as mine to want the children to choose a career that has the most financial stability and growth but their vision of success was always different for me. They wanted me to choose what’s right for me and what makes me happy and provides purpose in my life. That’s such a refreshing life view that I’m very grateful to have had growing up.
I’ve also had some great friends and mentors who have really helped to open doors for me in my education and life in general. They’ve always been encouraging and supportive of me and my journey and it really helps to know that there are people in your corner who have your back even when life throws some mean curveballs.
I’d also be remiss if I didn’t thank all the amazing creatives out there that bust their butts day in and day out and motivate me to follow in their footsteps. I don’t mean just other painters, but musicians, photographers, dancers, actors, and even chefs who work so hard to make their dreams come true! I always love hearing success stories of those that overcame great odds and hardships to achieve their goals. They show me that you can make life the way you want it to be.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mikeleefineart.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @mikeleeart
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