Meet Mike Simpson | artist

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

Hi Mike, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Typically, the options for artist’s to sell their work have been the traditional gallery representation model, shows and direct sales. The internet has greatly advanced the opportunity for artists to represent themselves and market their work directly to the buyer. Not all artists are cut out to be the salesman of their own work however, so the gallery model has some great appeal, however, the completion for this venue is great. For me personally, I chose to represent myself in my own gallery, which actually started out as a frame shop. I needed to frame my paintings, so with the purchase of required equipment and supplies I began. Since I paint in both watercolor and oils, I ultimately had glass and matter cutters etc. Friends, family and acquaintances began to ask me to frame their art, photographs, etc. and with the addition of my own art, it became a full time business, complete with employees et al.
Since those days, I have called way back, no longer framing for the general public and have a small gallery/studio in the quaint mountain town of Ouray, Colorado. I still maintain a full studio and frame shop in Montrose, but strictly for my own use.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My formal education is in Animal Husbandry. I have a BS in Animal Science. During that career I suffered a back injury and the attending surgeon asked if I could do anything else as my career in that field was limited. I said I could paint pictures and she offered that maybe it was a good time to change careers…an artist was born. While I have had an interest in art from early on I had never considered it as a means of making a living. My back injury however changed all of that.
Painting from life/on location has been a big part of my art career development. While I have participated in the current trend of plein air painting events that are so popular, the idea of completing a painting in one session as an end result of the experience was not compatible with my original interest in plein air painting. I had preferred to use plein air painting as an opportunity gather information, If a successful painting is a result, then that is great, but was not the goal.
Of course, the more one paints out of doors, on location, the easier it becomes and the information gathered is so much more valuable. Completing the painting on location becomes much more easily accomplished and often results in a much more eye pleasing painting. My painting time is spent equally on location and in the studio.

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?
The landscape is a big part of where I live so naturally it plays a huge part of an entertainment itinerary for visiting family, friends and fellow artists. Locally, the first stop would be the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, NP. The dynamics of the gorge, with the Gunnison river at the bottom is without comparison. It is a best kept secret of our immediate area. Super or lunch can be had at any one of several Mexican restaurants. My favorite go to is Amelia’s Hacienda. Great ambiance combined with good food.
Not far away, is the quaint little mountain town of Ouray, where my gallery/studio is located, in the majestic San Juan Mountains of Southwest Colorado. Known as the “Switzerland of America”, and the Jeep capital of the world, combined with a pleasurable natural hot springs, the town is a popular draw for “regional locals” to international visitors. Sitting at the foot of the scenic Million Dollar Highway numerous restaurants, boutique shops, and quaint historic hotels line the streets.

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?
Ed Runci, a former Coca Cola girl illustrator, tuned easel artsit, is the one who recognized my interest in representational oil painting and got me started many years ago. Wayne Wolfe and Ralph Oberg are two living artists who helped me develop my skills as a painter. My Dad was the consummate salesman so I have to credit him with my business acumen and interest.
Being an artist and a businessmen is somewhat of an oxymoron as we well know.
Robert Henri and his book “The Art Spirit” has been an inspiration over and over. I do however have to give credit to David Bayles and Ted Orland in bring the reality of life as an artist in to perspective with their book “Art and Fear”.

Website: www.mikesimpsonart.com

Instagram: mikesimpsonart

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

Youtube: Mikesimpsonart

Other: https://youtu.be/BA743O9KyC8

Image Credits
all images taken by the artist…me