First Impressions
Entrepreneurial spirit and beloved books spark an artistic life
Mike Butkus
Where did you grow up, and how did this inf luence your art? My upbringing in Southern California may not have directly inf luenced my art, but the books that I read sparked my creative journey. As a wee tot, I obser ved my parents engrossed in the classics, science fiction, and mysteries. I’d then delve into these very same books, often illustrating my favourite scenes; a practice that has continued to shape my artistic expression.
WORK IN PROGRESS
I
did a couple of thumbnails for my wife’s upcoming paintings. I used markers, warm and cool, pencils and graphite.
SELF REFERENCE
A
character for my upcoming book. I used myself as reference for creating this one!
What, outside of art, has most inf luenced your work?