Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Woodward.
Hi Michael, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hello, I’m Michael Woodward, a visual artist in San Diego, with my art studio located at the Escondido Arts Partnership in Escondido. I have always been very creative. My mom told me that when I was two, I started painting and then began drawing. When I was in school, I would create stories and draw characters to go with the stories. I studied design, printing, & printmaking in high school and eventually got my degree in graphic design. I walked away from design and moved into marketing, as I was not fulfilled with creating a design, and in the end, due to the commerciality of the process, my design was very different once it was in print. In 2018, thanks to my amazingly supportive husband, Rich, and his gift of art lessons at Art on 30th in North Park, I decided to try something I had not done before: abstract acrylics. I was fortunate to have landed in a class run by established artist Ann Golumbuk. I continued my art making after the classes ended, setting up my “backyard art studio” with my paints and a $30-fold-up table from Walmart! Over the course of the next two years, I explored more mediums and moved fully into mixed media. In 2020, during the pandemic, I landed an art studio in Barrio Logan and grew my art practice there until I was offered a studio as a resident artist with Escondido Art Partnership in October of this year of 2023. Since 2022, I have also been incorporating textile/ fiber art into my art practice. I recently held the opening for my second solo exhibition, running through March 2nd, at Villa Musica. The show consists of 24 new pieces, mostly created in the last year. I honestly had not really taken my art practice seriously or considered it much more than a hobby until October of 2021, I was approached by a gallery in New York City to submit work to a show & had two pieces juried into the Absolutely Abstracts show held on December 2021.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road. I work full-time in Talent Acquisition as a Manager of a team of 6 currently, and I have to divide my time. At the time of my move into painting in 2018, I was working full-time as a Director of Talent Acquisition & was traveling for work & made the decision to take a step back in 2021 and move into a manager role to allow myself more balance to further pursue my art while also working to support myself. Balancing a full 40/50-hour work week and then making time to go to the studio feels like two full-time jobs. There have been opportunities with my art that I had to pass up due to work. This past year, I was invited to have two different solo shows. A major commitment of time and very long weeks, but it has been rewarding as I have pushed myself creatively and challenged myself to keep going with my art. When I started this art journey in 2018, I was well into my 40’s with a steady job and didn’t feel like I could just drop everything to pursue art, however at the same time I have life perspective and realized it was now or never & to go for it. I have not looked back.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
As I mentioned, I had started painting in my backyard & then moved into a studio at the Art Hub building on Logan Ave in Barrio Logan. The first studio I rented there was basically an 8 by 8 box, very small – no windows to the outside. During my time in this studio, I came up with the 8×8 Studio name. I am currently working to bring this from a name for a studio & art practice to a full “artrepreneur” concept. I am building out a website and hope to this year launch a brand that is more than just paintings by Michael Woodward, but a full creative community and products, along with classes and other ideas/concepts I am currently working out.
My studio is now located at the Escondido Arts Partnership, which has been an amazing experience itself as my studio is located within the gallery, allowing a constant source of support, guidance, as well as inspiration and interactions with other artists and collectors & members of the Arts Partnership.
What makes you happy?
Literally getting up every day and thinking about what I could create on this day or week. When I was 25, my youngest brother was killed in a car accident when he is close to his 18th Birthday and ever since I really work hard to appreciate each day. I have even more appreciation as I get older & realize I had stepped away from being creative for so long, I have much to make up for. Now I seem to have constant inspiration and I drive myself to create and keep the momentum going! I love to create art that makes people smile and brightens their day. I constantly hear “I Love your use of color, it makes me happy” when someone visits my studio & this brings me joy, as that is all I can ask for when making my art, to spread some happiness and make someone smile. My saying, “Make Art, Have Fun!”
Pricing:
- Original works can vary from $200 – $3000
Contact Info:
- Website: www.8x8studio.com
- Instagram: 8x8studio AND michaelwoodwardart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555658074656
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrecruits/
- Other: https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/8x8studio
