"Building Our New Home"; 25x50x7, mixed media, Tinkertoys, by Michael Litewski from a recent exhibit at the Blue Moon Gallery in Grayslake, IL Scroll down to view more art...
Before 2017, Michael Litewski described himself as a “picture maker” artist. Today, his work falls into no readily identifiable genre other than 3D, perhaps. He enjoys experimenting with different types of media and using it to tell a story. Not relying on a sketchbook, he creates in real time. By trusting his creative process and consistently challenging himself, he manipulates playful items like Tinkertoys into engaging artistic configurations.
Incorporating fun imagery or three-dimensional items into projects, helps his brain fire constantly and sparks his imagination. In fact, he searches regularly for vintage wooden playthings from the 1960s era because now those same items are manufactured in plastic.
“Working with these old toys helps me feel like a five- year-old again,” Mike reflects. “As soon as they arrive, I dump them onto the living floor to sort through them just like I did in childhood. However, I quickly revert back to my adult self once I start working them into an art project. It’s important to just let yourself go.”
Mike credits his parents for encouraging his artistry and allowing him the freedom to explore career options such as architecture. He considered this choice for a time possibly explaining his consistent use of the basic house shape in his work today.
With "Home" as his frequent theme, he delves deeply into how he can capitalize on structures that hold meaning for people. Because he is an artist who luckily, doesn’t have chaos in his life to draw inspiration from, he searches for story lines that universally reflect the world at large.
Working on as many as six projects at a time, he never knows what the story lines will be until he reaches the end.
During his student years, he attended the Art Institute of Chicago for one year but decided it wasn’t a career fit. As a result, he departed the art world for about 20 years before he felt the urge to return. Now, he eagerly seeks out art mentorship for himself where he has been challenged to work larger.
His future goals include solo shows, and even museum installations.
“When it comes to marketing, I know where I want to go with my work – I’m not doing it for the sales but for the challenge of expressing myself artistically,” Mike says.
His advice to other artists is not to mimic a master, but to become a master. Tall order, but Mike definitely seems to be on his way!
Learn more here: LitewskiArts
"Leaving Home"; 50x36x5, Mixed Media -- Tinkertoys
"Storm"; 24x24, white ink and painted graphite on canvas
"The Unpacking"; 30x30x7 -- mixed media
"Lies, Corruption and Power"; 60x36, mixed media, Tinkertoys
"Birdhouse"; 36x36, acrylic on canvas
"Descending in the Darkness"; 50x50x7, mixed media, Tinkertoys