Trouble Painting

Born in 1957 in the United States, Mike always enjoyed drawing and painting as a child, but instead pursued a career in the engineering and design fields. After establishing and growing his own company over 20 years, he decided to sell everything and follow his passion for art. He studied with Italian artist Francesca La Rue in Hawaii for several years, and also with Hungarian artist Emö Simonyi in Italy. In 2005, Mike moved to France to deepen his artistic development. Today he lives in a 17th century château in Saussignac, in Southwest France, with his partner Timothy White, and paints full-time and teaches a limited number of art classes in summer in France and in Spain in winter at their seaside home.. Mike and Timothy have a gallery located in the château, and have exhibited throughout Europe. Mike challenges both himself and others, and in the process finds both physical and spiritual healing through honest and full creative exploration. His goal is to enrich the world around him through color and the expression of life, capturing its essence and taking himself and his students on a journey of discovery through the life of an artist. Finding himself, losing himself, asking why, and answering “Why not!” Mike's art is continually evolving and he has been influenced by a variety of countries, cultures and artists throughout his travels. His work can be at times both political and inspirational in style, full of expression and sometimes controversial. “Art is a feeling. Art is an expression. Art is a journey. And art is my guiding light.”