Meet Michael Safran

We had the good fortune of connecting with Michael Safran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Michael, alright, let’s jump in with a deep one – what’s you’re definition for success?
Quality over quantity. Not in how many or how much to appear bigger or better, but in being more concentrated or attentive concerning the friends and things that most significantly factor into my artwork and experience. I can feel diluted, weighted down and less efficient when there’s too many or too much. Excess can distract and get in the way of the experience itself. Besides living lighter is better for the earth and spirit. Being able to sustain naturally with less burden and overhead feels less anxious. Sometimes there is a success in sacrifice.

I don’t gauge my artistic success in terms of superficial notions of how I compare to others, but in the actual integrity of my experience and ability to reflect back and see the progress. That is all the validation I need. If I can find some equanimity and peace of mind through my artwork, and a healthy outlet to navigate a challenging world, then it’s a win situation.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Sometimes I feel like an artist not by choice, but by default. I’ve tried other paths maybe in search of something more normal or pragmatic, but it keeps coming back around to being an introspective creative anomaly in this world. I’ve accepted it without a doubt and can’t really change that fact. If I had a choice I might have been a geologist, doctor or astronomer.

Originally it was about the music and the word which naturally led me into appreciating the visual world within and without. Deep listening and playing musical instruments is a doorway to higher consciousness and developing a vision true to nature and true to self. Sound and vision are closely related.

The biggest challenge is staying consistent in that natural self. I’ve never separated being an artist from being my self, or the art world from the world. I care more about being my self than being an artist, but if you call me that, I’ll proudly where the title. We are what we actually do, experience and accomplish. The proof is in the pudding and has less to do with the relative labels we imagine. One lesson for me is to avoid getting too fixed in a label, because life is always changing. I am more than just a definition or label.

Another lesson is to never be in too much of a hurry to get anywhere. Aesop’s Tortoise and Hare fable is a good rule of thumb. Slow but sure over haste makes waste. I make each piece of artwork my best and give it time, rather than trying to do too much out of a fear of feeling unproductive. Reflection, incubation and journey over destination are a big part of the working process, as in watering and sunlight are part of the garden’s growth. The experience leading up to is as important as the final product.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If it was summer we could get up early to the mountains and on the trail for some quiet, fresh morning views and feelings. On another day we could take a long bicycle ride along the Poudre River. Camping out for at least a couple nights to see the stars maybe somewhere in the Poudre Canyon or Red Feather Lakes gives a deeper connection to the natural area. At that point my friend might be a little worn out. Colorado is a fun place to stay home too. I can’t really speak for the nightlife having evolved into an early riser, but if my friend wanted, there is no shortage of good places to eat, drink, have coffee, see artwork, and hear live music in this one big place, or state of mind, called NOCO.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
In gratitude to all the true friends and family, both here and gone, who have helped support, inspire and shape my artwork. The organic human connection is vital to its actualization.

Website: https://mjsaf.com

Instagram: @michael_j_safran

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mjsaf

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MJSafran