Mike Biskup
Artist Bio/Description: MIKE BISKUP (b. Los Angeles, CA 1970) is a local watercolorist who makes upbeat, colorful, symbolic paintings that tend to make people smile. He has shown his work in Port Townsend, Los Angeles, New York, and around the Northwest since 2002. Mike is also a US Embassy Artist who recently was part of a three year, four person exhibition at The US Embassy in Pristina, Kosovo along with Dale Chihuly.
Perched Uptown just a few steps from our beautiful brick courthouse Mike Biskup’s new studio and 1947 home is easy to find, park at, and packs a wallop of a good view. During the tour, Mike will be in his studio working on several paintings, demonstrating his homemade spinning easel, and drawing with India ink on stretched watercolor paper, among other things. He’ll also open part of his little house as the walls will be hung with a variety of his favorite paintings for sale. He’ll be showing originals both large and small, drawings on paper, archival prints of all sizes, greeting cards, etc. His tiny frame building wood shop is just next door in his parent’s garage whose walls will also be decked with original paintings and on view as part of the tour.
Mike spent his youngest years drawing quirky characters and complex contraptions with his two older brothers. Later he earned a Fine Arts degree at UC Santa Cruz. Still later, he homeschooled three intrepid children in the wilds of Port Townsend. Nest emptied, Mike embraced his role as a bringer of visions in the Artist/Shaman tradition outlined by Joseph Campbell. In 2020, a powerful mystical experience shed new light on Everything...
“I turn on some music or an audiobook, grab a brush or pencil and start making shapes, lines, buildings, people, plants, things… I move a little faster than I can think and the picture seems to start making itself. I almost never have any idea what the completed painting will look like. This inspires me, because I like surprises. About a third of the way into each painting, I think it's terrible. I keep going and things almost always start looking better. When everything flows together nicely and the energy of it appears to be at its peak, I’m finished. Then I seal it in wax and frame it in wood.
In my paintings, everything flows together. Diverse colors, lines and shapes - People, places, plants and things are woven into one harmoniously functional system. I want to subtly remind viewers from all backgrounds, that we humans, in all our diversity, are essentially interconnected and with thoughtfulness and wisdom can function together harmoniously as well. I’m inspired by architecture, nature, the interconnectedness of all things, The Holy Trinity and The Theotokos.”
Visit Mike’s website for more info: www.mikebiskup.com
Studio Tour Days: Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Studio Address:506 Scott St, Port Townsend, WA 98368, United States
Email: mike@mikebiskup.com
Website:http://www.mikebiskup.com
Instagram: @mikebiskup
Medium : Painting, Drawing & Illustration
Demo/Activity: Yes
Stairs: No