Mike Sexton

Hello Everyone,

My name's Mike Sexton; I've been working as a digital painter and graphic design artist since 2005. As a kid I always liked to draw; I'd draw whatever I had around me; some of it was pretty horrid lol but it's the only way to improve yourself in drawing or any other activity. I started out with the basic pencil/paper and then moved onto colored pencils which is an interesting medium to work with.
About 5 years ago I started using a computer program called Paint Shop Pro and Animation Shop and got really into making computer graphics and animations; then one day I got an email from a gentleman who runs a nonprofit animal rights organization in Canada and he had seen some of my work and asked me if I'd design some banners for his organization to use; I was glad to so as animal rights and environmental causes are extremely important to me. I started to use PSP to not only design computer graphics but I started to draw and paint with it things I created from scratch using only my computer mouse and then additionally using a graphic tablet I bought last year when I went professional and began my company, Mike Sexton Studio.
I enjoy painting wildlife, Egyptian, Celtic knots, animal rights and fantasy paintings as well as graphic designs which I use on merchandise I sell as well as prints as at my gallery here. This isn't where I leave off though because as a graphic designer, naturally I also design logos, banners and even websites for other companies.
What do I use for inspiration? Things I see all around me, in movies, in my local environment such as my 2 dogs, history, whatever can spark an idea; you'll be surprised what you can come up with when you look beyond the norm and see what's really there.

While it's important to make a profit- naturally if you wish to eat this helps hehe, it's more important to be true to yourself. I, like every other artist take on projects that I'm not necessarily wild about but there are certain principles I won't break; even if it costs me a job. Just remember this, when you sell out your principles and your beliefs, you are also selling out the artist inside of you. Art is a reflection of your soul, your creativity, your heart- always be true to those areas.

I had the opportunity to participate in an online artist interview with a wonderful lady named Beth Edwards;  she really has some terrific and thought provoking questions she asks artists & I am truly honored to be able to have my interview featured at her site.  You may read the entire interview and get to know a bit more about me as a person and as an artist at this art/mike-birdman-sexton-interview-with-the-artist web page.

Publications:
The Wild & the Magical- Fantasy & Wildlife Art, 2007- This book features my
earlier work.

The Anata Gallery- Your Art Edition 2011- I have my Golden Lion painting on the cover as well as a full color image of it inside the book.