Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Bastidas.
Michael, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I believe being born and raised in Oceanside, CA had a lot to do with why I got into art. Ever since I was a little kid, I was always fascinated about skateboarding. Southern California is the Mecca of skateboarding and it was only natural for me to get sucked into it. Around the age of six years old was when I got my first skateboard and haven’t stopped skating since. The art, graphics, and lifestyle is what attracted me and little did I know back then, this was the door that exposed me to creating art.
Just like any kid growing up, I imagine they would draw and doodle from time to time, but it was when I was in high school when I started to pick up spraypainting and cutting out stencils. I was inspired by a couple of my friends that used to tag or write their names on the street. I wasn’t very good at tagging, so I figured I would go the stencil route. I got a couple of tips from my friend and just haven’t stopped from then. After high school I found myself working at various different site warehouses and painting when I got home from work. Anyone that would set foot in my house would either get there board or shirt painted.
One day after working in the warehouse, I got over doing the same thing day in and day out, so I decided to just hit the road with a car full of stencils and spray paint. The first shop ever to sell my grip was Asylum in Oceanside, CA and slowly started to get more skate shops as time went on. Most of my friends were either am or pro skaters and they were getting photos in magazines and clips in videos which helped my name and art gain more momentum. Since then I have had two different shoes from Emerica and DC, had a warehouse with a mini ramp, and have had some art shows in Paris and New York. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least.
Last 20 years or so, I got into art from looking at the different skateboard graphics and the tagging or street art. I gore up skating all around Oceanside at the age of six and just couldn’t stop. I loved collecting the different stickers from the brands.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I mainly cut out stencils and spray paint them on grip tape, shirts, canvas, or whatever I get my hands on. Most of my inspiration stems from pop culture or just funny images or ideas I think of. I will either create some images on the computer or freehand draw them and then cut them out so I can spray paint them. Painting has always been an outlet for me to just express myself and inspire others. I love to incorporate bright colors and give off the 1980’s vibe throughout my art.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
For artist today, I can see it being easier and harder for them to get recognized. The internet and social media has been a game changer and can expose your creativity to many people. This can open opportunities and expose you to people or companies you would have never come across. The downfall is that there are so many people out there that you might get lost in the mixed. That being said, it’s up to the individual to separate themselves from everyone else and make their art unique and stand out.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
People can see my art through my website or visit any skate shop and purchase Mouse Grip.
Contact Info:
- Website: mousemovement.com
- Email: mouse@mousemovement.com
- Instagram: @mousegrip
- Facebook: @mousegrip
Image Credit:
MOUSE
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