Meet Michal Romero | Visual Artist, Art Educator

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

Hi Michal, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
I am a visual artist and the services I provide are very specific to my craft because of how I was trained and how I’ve found a place for myself within the world. Where I fit in in this market is something that I have found very difficult to explain because many people don’t understand that visual artists neither all do the same thing nor offer the same services. I did not simply chose to be an artist one day and posted continually on Instagram until I got a decent following. At the same time, many artists thrive in a capitalist market by selling prints and offering services that other businesses can use (such as graphic designs for logos, murals for brick-and-mortar locations, etc.). I have met many talented artists over the years who love art, are self-taught, or have enjoyed making a hobby of an artistic talent they had. They may have developed a business that lends itself to the current market and found a way to be successful doing what they love and this is fantastic!

I, however, took a more traditional approach to becoming an artist and majored in art in school. I got an MFA in drawing and painting and spent years, both in school and afterwards, studying art, developing my concept, style, and process. There is an element of seriousness that I can’t help but have when I create a new piece and the process can be both emotional and labor-intensive, which I love and am always learning! When clients want to buy my art, they may do so in multiple ways. They may choose something from a series of paintings I made based on a concept I was exploring. They may commission a painting of a particular subject matter (for example, one client recently requested a painting of 2 of her husband’s favorite birds). Others commission a house or zodiac portrait (more information about flat rates for these in on my website in the “Links” section). These are the ways that I navigate my talents through my chosen industry of art.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a painter and I draw. I am trained in skill and technique but it is my concept and style that set me apart from other artists. My style is not hyper-realistic and, in my paintings, I pay a lot of attention to layering. The viewer will see my unique hand in the work. I am interested in how my experiences and dreams guide me to make decisions about my life. Though my life’s work has visually changed throughout the years, I place objects, text, animals, made-up symbols, or people in a space that represent moments in time. By placing these things together in a composition, I seek to make sense of them and, therefore, understand my life better.

It takes hard work, tenacity, and determination to make it professionally. I know, it sounds very boring, but it’s true. There are not shortcuts or quick ways of developing your skill and concept if you do it honestly. Also, and this is especially important for creative people: You must get rest and exercise. Creativity is where the joy comes into all the labor. If one is stressed and exhausted, it is very challenging to get creative work done. I think there is this toxic hustle culture that needs to end. Hard work is a large part of success but so is rest. Balance is key.

My brand is Michal Romero Art (née Durham). My original art can be found on my website (https;//www.michalromero.com) and my instagram (https://www.instagram.com/michalromeroart).

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would definitely take them to the Modern in Fort Worth because the exhibitions are always strong and I love the architecture. The StockYards are cool, too, for a taste of history and we’d end our Fort Worth tour at Maple Branch Brewery–they have the best beer I’ve ever tasted in north Texas (I said it!). For a nice hike, I’d take them to White Rock Lake, to do a few miles in East Dallas, go shopping at North Park Mall, and have a delicious cocktail and bite at Lounge Here.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have to say that my mother and late father have always encouraged me to pursue what I wanted and trusted me to know. My friends that I keep close and have met along the way, my extended family, and my colleagues have always appreciated my outlook, my ideas, and my artwork which gave me confidence. My husband has always lovingly encouraged me and supported me throughout my journey after leaving the profession of teaching high school art. Finally, I freaking love Patti Smith! Her writings (among too many other literary and visual artists to list) have inspired me and I’ve always related to her point of view.

Website: https://www.michalromero.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michalromeroart

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/michal-durham-romero

Image Credits
Gary Logan Photography (Image of Artist)