Meet Michael Doering | Painter and Printmaker

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

Hi Michael, have you ever found yourself in a spot where you had to decide whether to give up or keep going? How did you make the choice?
Although there are a lot of rewards in this work, the life of a professional artist can be pretty challenging: Even if you put your heart and soul into a piece, it may end up poorly received or critiqued harshly. There are no guarantees in the arts and it is probably the norm to experience periods of struggle. With this said, I believe many artists question at some point whether they should keep going or give up.

This is a tough question and a very personal decision, but for me, making art is almost a basic need, similar to sleeping or eating. Just like I could not quit doing these, I could never imagine giving up on art completely. I have had periods of time where I have taken breaks from making or showing art, and I have also worked in other fields to support myself and family, but I have never not been an artist.

Our society oftentimes frowns on taking time off and typically defines us by our careers. If we, as artists, work another job to cover expenses or if we take a break from exhibiting our work, it doesn’t mean that we are no longer artists, and for me, it has been important to remind myself of this when I get discouraged.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a contemporary painter and printmaker and I like to combine contrasting techniques into my pieces with hints of humor, history, and a slight nudge for viewers to look at things differently. I typically work from memories, stories, and observation while naturally gravitating towards a bold expressive style with a constant need for experimentation and change. When in doubt, I go with my gut, and if something is not working, I tear it down and build it back up! This may result in disaster, but typically, it creates tension and energy in my work, which is vital to me as an artist.

Recently, I have been experimenting with combining traditional woodcut printmaking into contemporary expressive paintings with graffiti, spray paint, and other mediums. I am not aware of any other artist who is doing this, and I am pretty excited and happy with the results that I have been getting so far with this approach.

I definitely did not take a direct path to where I am today as an artist. I was born in a small town in Iowa and I had little to no exposure to art or art instruction growing up. However, this did not deter me from constantly drawing, even though, it was typically on lined paper with ballpoint pens. I attended the University of Iowa and earned a BFA with an emphasis in drawing and printmaking.

After graduating college, I relocated to Las Vegas, where I earned two master’s degrees from UNLV, but sadly I ended up taking a big detour on my art journey while in Vegas. I worked in education as a teacher, counselor, principal, and district administrator, and unfortunately, I didn’t pick my brushes up again until 2017, but since that time, I feel like I have been making up for lost time.

I am now based in Reno, Nevada and I am grateful to have developed an international following for my work. I have exhibited my art in numerous shows across the United States, Dijon, France and virtually through Santiago, Chile, but southern California, and specifically the LA area, has been the most receptive to my art.

I have always had a love of storytelling and characters, and much of my work is based on this, but I have also been influenced by countless artists, including the Expressionists, Post-Impressionists, street artists, and various contemporary portrait painters.

I believe the path of an artist can be pretty challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Over the years, I have learned the importance of trusting my intuition, being true to myself, and not taking myself too seriously. It is important to work hard, but also to have fun and to take risks. I thrive on learning new things and I believe this is apparent in my art, as I am always experimenting with new techniques and pushing the limits of various mediums.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
For me, the greatest thing about LA is the diversity. I grew up in a small town where everyone was pretty much the same and now I absolutely love to immerse myself in other cultures and activities. Aside from visiting the beach communities, art galleries, and some of the city’s amazing museums, I would take the opportunity to seek out new Asian, African, Indian, Mexican, and South American restaurants and shops. I would also seek out live music opportunities and go see the Lakers or Kings.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout is to my wife and three sons, who have been supportive of me creating a home studio and time to work on my art uninterrupted. I know this is not always easy on a family, and I truly appreciate the space and consideration. In addition, I am thankful to my brother for his positive encouragement and his willingness to always offer his photography skills when needed. Lastly, I am also grateful to the artists and followers who I engage with on social media, as your positive comments and support have made a big difference to me.

Website: www.michaeldoering.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michael.doering.art

Youtube: www.youtube.com/@michael.doering.artwork

Image Credits
Two photos of me in my studio by Peter Doering. All other photos by me (Michael Doering).