Meet Michael Kreiser | Digital Artist

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

Hi Michael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always wanted to make a living off of my artistic abilities. And my business has gone through several transformations over the years until reaching the form that it’s in now. I did oil painting commissions for quite a while, but that business model wasn’t very lucrative. I knew that I wanted to make Art that was good enough to be replicated and sold over different mediums, so I began to work digitally creating touristy prints, sports designs, fun patterns. I was just trying to get something to stick with an audience. And that didn’t happen until I made my first comic design in 2017 for Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN”

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I create faux comic book covers of songs and albums that I love. I take the themes and some details about the artist or album and use all of that to create the art. Sometimes I make the design from scratch, other times I sample from old classic comic book covers.

Since I started doing this in 2017 I’ve noticed some other artists creating similar art, but I think my attention to detail will always allow my art to stand out.

I struggled for many years trying to figure out a formula for success, finally in 17’ I was inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN”. His alter ego Kung-Fu Kenny on the album gave me the idea for the comic book route. I shared it on some social platforms, specifically Reddit, and the positive reception was something I had never experienced, I had finally found my niche!

While trying to make Art as my sole profession, I spent 19 years working at Olive Garden to make ends meet until I needed a freak hip replacement. Because of the pain I had to stop working at “OG” in the fall of 2020. On my ass and awaiting surgery the following March in 2021, I had a goal to create something every day, it didn’t have to be a masterpiece, but just have this routine of making Art every day. This is when I really took my art to another level, and the sales of my art finally started to show it. I would never be working at the Olive Garden again.

I’ve learned that if you’re passionate about something, and you devote some time to that passion everyday, that you can make that passion your reality. It’s so cliche but it actually happened for me. I never imagined back while working a busy rush on a Friday night at the Olive Garden, that I would be where I am today. I had always dreamed of something like this, but not on this level. But just staying focused, setting goals, and having a support group can take you wherever you want to go, and further.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This might not be a popular opinion, but as a lifelong baseball fan I love what they did with Truist Park and The Battery. They basically built a new downtown area around the stadium with plenty to do before and after a ball game. I have a great time every time I go there.

Also, we had the “Shaq!” premiere at The Illuminarium, and that place was crazy. Floor to ceiling screens throughout, with dozens of projectors. I would recommend checking out any event that they have there. We stayed at Hotel Clermont for the premiere, and loved it. It’s stylistically like a time capsule from the 1920’s, with a lounge that has amazing handcrafted cocktails, and a rooftop bar with a great view.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First off I I have to thank Director Robert Alexander and his whole team for choosing me to work on HBO’s “Shaq!”. They are just some of the most supportive, encouraging, and all around great people I’ve ever met. Kind of early on in my rise the folks at Take It Personal Radio, specifically Philaflava, showed me some love and used a bunch of my prints as a giveaway for one of their episodes, that was great exposure. Also Hidden.ny on Instagram shared my work several times which led to a flood of new followers, and some DM’s from some big cats in the industry. And I can’t forget ATL’s own JID who has shared my designs for his song “Skegee” and his latest album “The Forever Story”. But none of this would be possible without the support from my family. Growing up my parents embraced and encouraged my talent, and for the past 13 years my wife Carly has been highly supportive, which couldn’t have been easy because for most of those years I was broke!

Website: https://www.michaelkreiserart.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/fine.art.of.mk?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=