Meet Michael Hsiung | Self taught artist, drawer, doodler

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

Hi Michael, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
A favorite quote or affirmation I have basically comes from the title of Megadeth’s 1988 album –”So Far, So Good, So What.” It’s a quote that a guy in my elementary school used in our yearbook and has come to mean various things for me in life.

Mainly, in terms of my art and drawing career, it has always reminded that when things are going well to always take it in stride, never get ahead of myself, stay humble, and that what I’m doing I’m lucky to be doing in terms of what is going on in the world. I’ve used it as a quote myself and even as a title for a solo show. I guess it just reflects my attitude that it’s not just about the success, but why you got into whatever it is you do in the first place. Doesn’t REALLY matter how far or how good it is going because you’re were going to be doing it regardless!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I definitely didn’t start out planning to be an artist. When I was a kid, my folks asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up? And I answered “a fire dog.” But in all seriousness, art and drawing just have been something I’ve done for as long as I can remember, but never did I think I could make money doing it. I was actually working as a grant writer’s assistant when I started to pick up drawing more and more. I wasn’t even very good I was just working out stuff in sketchbooks, but for some reason friends and co-workers would find some naive charm or humor in them, which made me draw more and more. It started out small like drawing stuff for a friend’s band t-shirt or for their record, then when early social media was around, I just shared what I was doing and found some folks who dug it I guess. I think the major challenges I had was learning really what the art world and galleries were like. Things people probably learn in art college or have some experience with, whereas, I had none of that. It was on-the-job training so to speak. I also felt the pressure to really get better at what I was making, becoming more thoughtful while at the same time not loosing my carefreeness, and staying true to what it was I was doing. It wasn’t only through trial and error, but also through the help of fellow artists in the community who I looked up too, became friends with, and/or just encountered who were generous enough to share what they knew and experienced as I was beginning my journey.

I’ve really learned that there are several ways to be successful as an artist and several ways to be an artist, and while some might not be your thing, that there’s a lot of space for all of it. I’ve learned that it’s okay not to fit into a mold of artist and that sticking to what you love drawing or making is really key. There’s always ups and downs, and the goal is really to stay balanced because art is a long term game. You might have what might seem like never-ending years of cool emails, projects and opportunities and then find out when you’ve been in it longer that those are fewer and farther in between. And that’s just part of it. Art isn’t an easy career–when it’s good it’s great. When it’s not and it’s financially stressful, it’s tough. There’s a lot of sacrifices and that it is okay have art not always as your main job. It can go from main job back to side job back to main job. There’s no real rules to it.

I’d love folks to just know that I didn’t come from art school and always struggled with trying to draw a certain way. I actually stopped drawing for many years because I just thought I wasn’t good at it, until I just kept drawing and found a way I could actually draw and live with. Once I found that I could draw and express things I’ve always wanted too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I had a friend visiting back in the day, I used to take them to lots of dive bars and places that served cheeseburgers haha! Nowadays, I’d probably take them to the farmer’s market here in Pasadena or in Atwater, followed by chill hike in the Angeles National Forest, then maybe down to Chinatown for some food at one of the many great dim-sum places, and then finish it off with some Little Tokyo Karaoke. Other places I’d take folks would be to Idyllwild, especially when they have the Renaissance faire up there–just overall food, fun and outdoor medieval fun. I’d also take them around to see my sister Pearl’s art studio to check out some of the works she’s got in progress and definitely to Descanso Gardens and The Huntington. Maybe down to an old Mexican burrito spot Taco Azteca in Glendale. Incidentally I just moved to Pasadena in the last three years, so there’s a lot of exploring here I’d do with them as well. Definitely grab a Srirachi roast beef sandwich at Lavender & Honey, veggie burger at Millie’s Cafe, deserts at Lark Cake Shop and dinner at Acai Bar.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
All the folks who have encouraged me to draw throughout the years, fellow artists who have been open and sharing, friends and family who have smiled at my weird drawings, and to all the amazing comics, books, illustrations and etc. I’ve absorbed as a small kid.

Website: http://michaelchsiung.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/michaelchsiung/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichaelCHsiung

Other: http://skatewizards.bigcartel.com

Image Credits
Jonathan Chu Poster Child Prints Rachel Pitler Metro Society6