“I believe if something created increases the value of someone’s experience of living, that is art.”

I feel fortunate that now I am able to be a full-time working artist. I have spent a majority of my life exploring various creative avenues and honing a range of skills to finally focus on doing work I love. This focus makes me feel invigorated and certain that I am on the right path.

Being an artist means feeling compelled by a thought in the form of an image and feeling obligated to expose it for others to interpret and hopefully enjoy. I have grown into the “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” philosophy of what is or is not art. I believe if something created increases the value of someone’s experience of living, that is art. And of course, art is all around us in that way. The simple power of increasing the value of life I think comes from a higher calling. Once someone believes they have arrived as an artist, I think there is an inner obligation to nurture that and continue producing in order to further enhance their own life and that of others. When art brings forth happiness and adds beauty to the world, that, I think, is the result of a higher calling. I know I feel that way about my own life, that this is my purpose. I feel like I must always be creating, so I guess that is my mission in life. I may not reach the kind of fame and recognition as the famous artists that I admire, but if I can bring beauty to the world, that will give me happiness.

To keep evolving as an artist I am always looking for inspiration. I find it all around me, especially since I still live part-time in Los Angeles. I love the beach and the surf/skate culture here, so my series “Perpetual Summer” is likely one that will keep on going forever. There is something stimulating about the beach; the iconic lifeguard stations, the people enjoying the year-round gorgeous weather, and the general atmosphere of fun in the sun. I never fail to find ideas for a painting while strolling the Venice Boardwalk. I am also very inspired by music, especially the old MTV videos that I was mesmerized with during the 80’s. I still remember some music videos so clearly that many references from that era pop up in my work. I am sure there will be some subtle Go Go’s and Duran Duran imagery in my Pop Culture series at some point. The two series are somewhat related and occasionally will blend into one painting, as they are very much a part of who I am as an artist.

One of my favorite artists, and the one I really admire the most, is Shepard Fairey, who also comes from South Carolina like me. One of the things I admire so much about him is that he has created an immediately recognizable and unique style. You can identify his art from a mile away, quite literally, as it is often on the sides of buildings! I am working to create my own unique style through the twisting of perspectives, distortion, and other means, sometimes painting things as if they are viewed through a fisheye lens. My color palette is also rather unusual, inspired in part by Art Deco architecture, and partly by the beautiful blues and turquoise of the sky and sea. I look forward to the day that someone sees a painting of mine and says, “Oh I know that art, that’s a Mitch Henson!”