Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael White.
Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
As soon as I could hold a pencil, drawing came to me most naturally. From age 2, my mother Vera, kept my earliest drawings featuring hundreds of cars on roads, circling lakes and other stuff that made sense to me then. The drawings were scribbled on the cardboard backings that came with my mama’s pantyhose and I used every inch. By the time I started school, I couldn’t understand why the other children could not draw. I finally realized that my passion for art gave me an advantage and set me apart from others so I embraced it even more completely. I let that ‘fire’ burn bright and it fueled everything else I ever did. I was published in the local newspaper at age 8 with a drawing I did of park swans. At 11 I started my own comic book production company with other friends as non compensated employees. At 14, I was hired to paint a mural of the Jordan River at a local Baptist Church prompting the attention of the local paper once again. The Rock Hill Evening Herald came to my home to interview me. When the reporter and photographer saw a portrait I had done of my stepfather Kiddo they asked me if I could draw courtroom sketches. Of course, I said “yes” because I was confident and fearless. One thing led to another and by the time I was 17 I was hired at Carowinds Amusement Park, on the SC and NC boarder, as the youngest pastel portrait artist to ever work there. By that fall, I had scholarships, grants, loans and the ‘skin of my teeth’ to get accepted into the Ringling College Of Art in Sarasota. Since then, I’ve gratefully done just about everything with my art including album covers, children’s books, comic books, magazine covers, game boards, logos, murals, theatrical posters, T-shirts, billboards and interactive video games. I event got to be the proud creator of the map used at the Ringling Museum. During that period I always said “my map was the most seen and known piece of art at the museum”. One thing does always lead to another when you’re ‘ambitiously invigorated’.
Backing up a little for clarity, I was born in Campbell California and raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina. I came to Florida to attend the Ringling College Of Art, then moved to New Haven Connecticut to be near New York only to end up back in Sarasota for the last 30 or so years. What’s next? Hmmmm? Is the sky really is the limit? I only know one thing, at 61 years old, I don’t believe I’ll ever ‘really’ retire because it’s art that keeps me alive. I do, however, have one rule… “If it’s not fun – I’m not doing it!“
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Because I always knew who I was and what I wanted my life has been easier than some. I never got married or had children so that also helped me take chances and be more flexible. I’ve also never been afraid of work. I’ve cut grass, washed dishes, cleaned cars, waited tables and hustled my sketches in Park. The dream has always been worth the struggle. My stepfather always said “I never had to worry about you because I knew you would survive.”
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I tell people I’m an illustrator who specializes in cartoons, comics and caricature art but I’m much more. I’m also a landscape painter, a fantasy painter, a writer, a poet, an actor and comedian. I think it’s enthusiasm and my need to please others or at least solicit acceptance that defines me as a person. In my work I channel joy and optimism with delicious strokes of color woven together with whimsical lines and mischievousness. As of Recently I’m most proud of my billboard titled “OK Awesome” featured in the 2023 Embracing Our Differences exhibit. It was exhibited in Sarasota and St. Petersburg. I also have a super large mural featuring the likenesses of Sarasota’s movers and shakers inside Wolfies Jewish Deli in Sarasota.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
I love this question. The key to my success is my versatility. I really can do just about anything but drawing live at events is my speciality. I’ve been hired by numerous businesses and individuals to come draw at their special events including birthdays, seasonal parties, anniversaries, pet events and festivals. Today I’m working in Orlando at a convention using pre-printed paper with the company name on it. Several businesses have also hired me to do their logo and/or art to wrap around their vehicle, bus or to put on their storefront window. If a business can think of something to do with original art, I’m ready and standing by. In addition to all of that I’m comfortable with anybody and love teaching others to better their art skills. I was always the teacher‘s ‘art assistant’, so it’s no surprise that I ended up being an art teacher. I’ve taught noncredit art classes at Ringling College Of Art for over 30 years. Therefore, people can certainly attend my classes there or come to my workshops or even become a private student.
Pricing:
- For freelance projects, I always ask my client. How much do they want to spend and then I try to match my efforts to meet their budget. I’m pretty flexible!
- For Caricature work at parties I typically charge around $375 for three hours of service. That includes everything.
Contact Info:
