Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Talbot.
Hi Michael, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Growing up in Jamaica, I was always the quiet, reserved kid who kept his own company while everyone else was out playing together. Because of this I found solace in art and drawing. This continued throughout my younger years and I noticed at some point others started noticing me because of it. Before I knew it, my art became not just my escape but the medium through which I interacted with the world and the individuals around me. After moving to the United States, I had a new challenge of now adapting and assimilating into this completely new and unfamiliar environment/culture. I stuck to what I knew and continued to create, using my art as a surrogate voice to who I was and who I desired to be. I went to Lesley University in Cambridge, MA and studied Illustration, Graphic Design and Animation and throughout my time there, I was able to finally find a community I could call mine. Having gone through the journey I did, I now know the importance and benefits of connecting with people and building up a network and support group, and through doing that, I was able to get to where I am now in my career; not just through personal and artistic growth, but growth within the art community as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been all smooth sailing the entire journey. There have been countless roadblocks, both internally and externally, but I believe an important factor throughout it all is to be adaptable, reflexive, and open to change. Like with most things, no matter how much you plan and structure things to go a certain way, there comes a time when they don’t line up as intended. Additionally, we need to also realize that the motivation and drive will not always be there; there are days when us as creatives and artists, simply don’t have the drive or the desire to create, and for me personally, it has come more often than I would have expected or hoped.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
In all that I do, I strive to make connections and tell stories – some are stories that have already been told, others may be unfamiliar or new. But I truly believe that through these stories, we as individuals are able to get a deeper and more wholistic understanding of each other, the world around us, as well as our innate purpose in life, connecting and growing with who we need to along the way. I’ve sought out to do this through engaging in a number of public art projects (murals, painted electrical boxes, window art, etc.), as well as illustrating children’s books, among other things. My work tends to incorporate the imagery of flora and fauna, alluding to my love and appreciation for nature and zoology which I have proudly begun to embrace that much more within recent years.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
For me, one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of prioritizing your well-being and downtime just as much as any other project or task that you are obligated to do. It’s easy to get lost in the flow of jumping from project to project and keeping busy, but taking care of your body and mental health amidst the hustle and bustle will allow you to come back to the same projects more energized and more focused as opposed to being constantly burnt out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.talbotsart.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talbotsart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalbotsArt
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/talbotsart
