Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Sheehan.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My story started as a kid, like a lot of artists, I loved drawing. I liked designing too even though I didn’t realize that was what I was doing. The turning point for me came when I enrolled at Fullerton College. That gave me direction and encouragement. Some of my teachers pointed me to Art Center in Pasadena. I went there, then Walt Disney Imagineering called, and I was off and running. That led to all sorts of interesting jobs including being the Toy Design Director for the Disney Stores.
Please tell us about your art.
I’ve had a pretty diverse career, and I’ve always painted in addition to the commercial work. I’m a sketchoholic, so I’m always in a sketchbook. This led to a five-year stint being a sketch reporter for NPR in addition to doing work in the product/toy/theme park type stuff. The last six weeks I’ve been teaching a workshop at Walt Disney Feature Animation. I’m always documenting the world around me whether it’s in sketches or plein air paintings etc. As of last year, I’m a professor at Fullerton College, where it started for me. So now I can bring all that experience into the classroom which I find exciting.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
I think that a sketchbook solves a lot of that problem. Get out in the world and explore. I meet so many people that way. It also gives me ideas from the stories that people tell me. A sketchbook is an ultimate icebreaker.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
My website drawingonexperience.net has everything I’m doing whether it’s shows or other events. It also has a link to my YouTube channel which has tutorials etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: drawingonexperience.net
- Email: mikesheehanstudio@icloud.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_sheehan_studio/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikesheehanstudio/
Image Credit:
All Mike Sheehan except the one with the stage in it, that was LA Opera.
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