Meet Mike Smith | Artist

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

Hi Mike, can you tell us about a book that has had a meaningful impact on you?
The Cherrywood Cannon. This is a book written and illustrated by Ralph Steadman, based on a story told to him by Dimitri Sidjanki. My mother bought this book in 1978 and when I read it, it blew me away. Steadmans illustrative style opened my mind to what an artistic mind could be capable of. It’s messy and ugly and showed me there are no boundaries when you’re creating your art. An artist can quite literally pour his or her mind, heart and soul out onto a canvas. I still have my mother’s copy of this book that’s meant so much to me and my carreer. I still thumb through it and it’s inspirational to me each time.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I’ve been drawing since I was old enough to pick up a crayon but I didn’t start MungoArt until about 15 years ago. My father had some talent but never developed it and certainly never pursued it as a career. I wanted to take what he gave me and make something of it. I’ve always loved tattoo flash art and I think that shows in alot of my work but I’ve always pushed myself to try new styles. I want to be able to give any client what they want. The fact that I’ve discovered some limitations to what I can do only motivated me to keep pushing myself. I’ve learned a lot from some amazing artists in the past 15 years so any time I have the opportunity to help a young artist I’m thrilled to do whatever I can.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I was a young man I was involved in the Dallas music scene. Hung out with local bands and stayed up all night but I’m older now and spend my time with my wife and kiddos. I’d say the most important part of any good time is the people you’re with.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been fortunate to have alot of love and support from family and friends throughout my life but the one person I’d like to recognize as being a driving force for my art carreer is my wife Angie. I’ve been scribbling in sketchbooks forever but I started developing my style and learning more about the business side of what I do because of her motivation and abillity to understand my quirks and weird behavior during my artistic process. The right person in your corner can help you reach goals you never thought possible.

Website: MungoArt.com
Instagram: Mungo360
Twitter: MungoArt
Facebook: MungoArt

Image Credits
Dallas cowboys