Daily Inspiration: Meet Michael Seib

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Seib.

Hi Michael, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born in Camarillo, California and drew pictures for all my friends growing up. When I tried doing live portraits in high school, I really sucked but I enjoyed drawing in class and I was inspired by my art teacher Shi Young Kim. I liked creating images from my imagination more often than capturing a photo. I got involved in music and played guitar at shows in Ventura and Los Angeles with different groups, my first being at church.

At UCSD I was focused more on reading and writing and producing hip hop/electronic music than visual art but I always thought about it and again, drew intermittently during lectures or in public if I was bored.

Later I got involved in jewelry photography and designed advertising once in a while, which was a great creative outlet and helped pay the bills but wasn’t really what I wanted to do permanently (unless I owned the company).

I moved to Visalia, CA to work on advertising and social media with a medical spa and gradually became a journalist for The Kaweah Commonwealth and The Valley Voice newspapers. I liked designing ads and drawing political cartoons once in a while in addition to writing, editing and photography.

Then I entered the era of Adobe Illustrator several years ago. I began turning drawings into vector art and sometimes drawing or painting on top of my prints to make them unique. I did a few portraits and dabbled in surrealism and abstract art. One of my favorite quotations was from my girlfriend (at the time) when she looked at my drawing of an alien clutching a human baby and said, “I like it, but you know you’re crazy, right?”

There is a great art scene in Visalia, Three Rivers and Tulare County but COVID hindered it temporarily. Musicians and party people seemed to like my art the most. Friends and I would get together and do acrylic pours, draw and play or listen to music together, but I still had day jobs to make ends meet.

My move to Wyoming just a couple of months ago was a great new beginning. I’ve met several local artists and intend to explore more art in the Colorado and southern Montana areas. My goal is to do larger pieces that have elements of chaos and order and might tell a story. Surreal, colorful landscapes and bold graphics will be mixed with natural and abstract elements. Mystery is key.

I also have a lot of fun with AI art and I am interested in how it’s affecting the status quo in the art world. I am using it as just another element, in the big ones anyway.

Greater sales would give me more time to get better and better. I’m not sure how to sell individual pieces as NFTs successfully yet but I am interested if someone isn’t a scammer. I would also like to collaborate on something big with an artist in Denver at some point! Please reach out to me.

I am getting ready to launch my website www.Sivorca.com next year but I need your support! Please DM me @henry_sivorca

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?
I know that there is a market for my art but it’s hard to reach the right person with the right price. Farmer’s markets and art events and galleries are only getting me so far. I’ve sold originals for less than $100 a few times. So many art fans are struggling financially. I just hope to give someone the experience of something they’ve never seen before. Greater financial independence would help me make murals and sculptures.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I have evolved from drawing to mixed media with acrylic paintings, AI art, watercolors, drawings, graphic art and photography. I am most proud when a picture is unique and catches someone off guard.

A lot of times, I like just going with the flow and then sometimes I like being very precise. I like the feeling of spontaneity and movement and also sharp, straight lines. I think I have a couple of different voices or ways of expression right now: I haven’t decided on a singular voice. Should we? Maybe I never will.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Sometimes it’s just putting in the time and focus and studying the things you like. Ask yourself why you like them. How can you incorporate the elements you like into your work? Which medium will help you achieve your vision?

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @henry_sivorca
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/mike.seib.75