Meet Mike Hewett | Fine Art Painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mike Hewett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mike, how do you think about risk?
Risk is good—when there’s a plan.

As an artist, I treat risk like a series of structured experiments. Before I start new work, I set intent: What am I trying to say? What would “success” look like—clearer voice, stronger technique, steady output? What would tell me I’m off track, and what will I change?

When it clicks—wonderful. I lean in and build momentum. When it doesn’t, I pivot fast: subject, scale, palette, process, or even my daily routine. It’s okay to be wrong; it’s not okay to stay wrong.

For me, risk accelerates learning and originality. Define the goal, set the guardrails, take the swing, and adjust early and often. I plan the work and work the plan.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a realist painter—landscapes, city scenes, animals. Mostly self-taught, with a thing for detail. I came out of a corporate career in software consulting, and I’m a CPA (never practiced). And yes, the spreadsheet jokes are real—my wife, Meredith, says I won’t pick up a brush until I’ve built a pivot table to plan how I’m going to paint the sky. She’s not wrong.

My focus is simple: solid drawing, believable light, and only as much color as the painting needs. I start with charcoal studies to lock in composition and values, then scale up once it holds together. If a direction works, I lean in. If it doesn’t, I change something—subject, scale, palette, or process. It’s okay to be wrong; it’s not okay to stay wrong.

Getting here hasn’t been easy. I had to slow down, unlearn shortcuts, and actually learn to see. Big lessons: values carry the weight, edges guide the eye, and consistency beats big bursts of effort.

Bottom line: I’m an emerging artist who takes the craft seriously. I want the paintings to feel honest—clear light, believable form, and a quiet confidence that comes from doing the fundamentals well.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend came to Austin, we’d keep it easy and let the weather call the shots. We’d start with breakfast tacos and coffee at Tacodeli, then take a short Hill Country hike out at Hamilton Pool. One day we’d head to Lake Travis and take my boat out to target largemouth bass. Afterward, I’d build in some pool time, throw something on the grill, and then we’d catch one of those big Texas sunsets with a couple of beers. If we feel like it, we’d drop into a bar with live music for a set or two. No tight schedule or checklist—just Austin the way I like it: good food, a few trails, the lake, the pool, and quiet sunsets.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’m the product of a lot of help. First, my wife, Meredith Pardue—she believed in me before the work looked like much and keeps pushing me to raise the bar. My family and close friends gave me honest feedback and steady encouragement when I needed both.

I also owe a big shoutout to Mark Carder—his teaching helped me unlearn bad habits, mix color accurately, and build a disciplined studio practice. And to the artists around me—the informal critiques, shared tips, and quiet nudges matter more than people realize.

Finally, to the early folks who took a chance on my paintings—thank you. That trust fuels the next canvas

Website: https://mikehewettstudio.com

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