Meet Mike Meares | Visual Artist

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

Hi Mike, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
I think people are vaguely aware that being an artist is a tough job, but may not consider the extent to which this business is challenging. The creation of art alone is a time consuming and non-linear process which can make it hard to monetize. You need to consistently sell originals and reproductions, which can have slim margins, to continue turning a small profit. Consider Art Festivals, the amount of time and monetary investment artists put in before the fair even begins is significant. Additionally, networking and socializing are a vital but time consuming aspect of the job if you want to access more opportunities to gain exposure for your work. It is one of the few businesses which is reliant on one person being the development, production, marketing, sales and management simultaneously. You have to be tenacious and unrelenting in your pursuit of making art your livelihood.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a painter. Most of my work focuses on music and the magical force that it is. I work fairly spontaneously as I start a piece, with little to no plan of what it will look like in the end. I begin by making marks, often times just trying to channel the energy of whatever music I am listening to. Once I get something going, I step back and begin to consciously shape the composition and other elements of the painting. Usually the music helps guide the process of bringing the painting to life, while my experience as an artist shifts the image and story to its final completion. I love to layer line and color. Those layers represent both the complexity of elements that make up the music as well as the many emotions that fill our daily lives.

I started my artistic journey in college painting surreal narrative pieces in oil. In my late 20’s, something clicked while exploring pastel as a medium. I loved how quickly I could jump into a piece, the immediacy of a drawing medium combined with the finished look of a painting. That was a big jump for me as an artist, and it really allowed me to become both looser and more patient during the creative process. About 6 years ago, I shifted back to painting as a medium, but was very conscious and diligent about trying to paint in a way that was more true to how I worked in pastel versus how I painted when I was younger.

It took many years of patience, dedication and relentless creative exploration to get to where I am. My work is primarily shaped by my desire to make art for myself, first and foremost, which keeps my work honest, unique, and available for natural connection with the audience.

For many years after graduating college, I had to fit being an artist into the cracks of life while working in other careers to pay the bills. Showing my work in bars, cafes, and restaurants. Ten years ago, I left my job to become a stay at home dad. Foolishly, I thought that would create more time for painting but that didn’t happen right away. Slowly I did start carving out more time as the kids got older. My family moved to Indianapolis five years ago. That move led me to new connections and the opportunities including joining a co-op gallery, painting a mural locally, and venturing into doing art festivals. All of these opportunities helped to get me where I am today, working full time as an artist, which has allowed me to blossom even more as a painter.

Being an artist is not an easy journey; one that requires a the right blend of tenacity, sacrifice and curiosity. There are times it feels like a foolish endeavor and times I feel fulfilled by my work and artistic process.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Indianapolis, which is definitely a city with a growth mentality. There are constantly new restaurants, bars and attractions opening up. My favorite thing to do in the city is First Fridays, which is an evening reserved for showcasing art across the city. The big three spots I like to hit up are The Harrison Center, The Circle City Industrial Complex (CCIC) and The Stutz building. The city also has a ton of art, music, and neighborhood festivals taking place from Spring through Fall.

My favorite food spots in town include Amelia’s bakery, Goldleaf Cafe, 317 Burger, Kingdough Pizza, Aroma and Fat Dan’s – a Chicago bar with great food for when I want to catch a Cubs or Bears game. The Food Truck game here is pretty strong too! Sun King Brewery has long been established as the premier micro-brewery in town for good reason, but don’t sleep on Guggman Haus or Bier Brewery who also have fantastic beers.

Obviously, as a music lover, I love to go to record stores and catch live shows. At Square Cat Vinyl in Fountain Square you can do both in the same place, it is an excellent local spot. Luna Records and Indy Cd & Vinyl are also prime choices to shop for vinyl. For live music venues it can depend on your taste. There is of course Ruoff, an outdoor amphitheater up north that hosts big name acts, but in the city there is a plethora of smaller gems; the Hi Fi in Fountain Square, The Vogue in Broad Ripple, The Murat, The Melody Inn, and The Healer to name a few…

If you are in town with kids, everyone will tell you about the Children’s Museum and it is great. But my best recommendation is Holliday Park. Great spot for a picnic, large playground, nature center, and kid friendly hikes. In the summer they also have a concert series. If you are a baseball lover like me, Victory Field is a great place to catch a game. It has a big league feel in a smaller, more laid back atmosphere! And finally, I’d say take a day trip down to Brown County and beyond to do some hiking in the beautiful Hoosier National Forest.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to give a few shoutouts to recognize those that helped me get where I am. First, my parents, who supported my decision to pursue art. I don’t think they really understood the journey, but they never questioned it or tried to talk me out of it. Next, I would like to thank all of my friends along the way for their continued support and encouragement, no matter where I was in my journey. Two friends in particular: Peter Adriel who constantly challenges me to be a better, stronger creative and Travis Owens who helped guide me into the business of being an artist and always someone I can count on for philosophical conversations on creativity.

I would like to thank my wife, Katie, for going through this journey with me as well. There have been so many opportunities I would not have been able to take advantage of without her love and support. I thank her for always being honest and blunt when I ask for her opinions about my work, instead of simply “liking” everything. That has been a crucial tool for me to become more confident and steadfast in my creative journey.

And finally, a shoutout to musicians. Music is my main inspiration and muse as an artist. I cannot imagine a world without the beautiful gift that musicians bring to us in so many spectacular forms. Think of the power that music has to inspire, communicate and unite people in ways that nothing else can.

Website: http://mikemeares.com/index.html

Instagram: @MikeMearesArt

Image Credits
Kyle Helmond (headshot photo only)