Welcome to my weird place on the Internet.
BOO! 👻 Welcome home fellow weirdos.
I should start off by saying thank you to those of you who have supported my career as a freelance artist. Every private commission, sticker purchase, Kickstarter backed; I truly couldn't do this without your confidence in me as an illustrator.
A little backstory about this creative goofball (me). 🧙🏻♂️
Growing up, I always had many hands in different creative interests. Exploring photography, creative writing, painting, sketching, etc. I was published by Nikon for my photography in high school, and I soon joined a college-that-shall-not-be-named; dropped out 3 years in, and lived with crippling debt totaling ($60,000+)for over a decade. Needless to say, I wasn't ready to claw and fight my way through the compeditive industry that is graphic design. I was pretty much crushed creatively. I went years without creating, and it was hell.
2020 I started a Kickstarter for my first zine, 'Monster Meat'. Featuring suggestive artwork of monster boys, on faux vintage magazines, every article title a reference or pun related to the monster boy. I wasn't sure how things would go, but to my surprise... nearly every zine was funded, AND purchased within the month!
Zines always have had a special place in my heart. Being a fan of zines like 'Teen Witch' and 'Cop Dad' back in 2009; I found out that zines have been a huge way for queer people to find out about events, disseminate information, and connect with the community. Which just grew my love and interest for them. Creating my own zine was a dream come true. Little did I know, I would eventually create two other (at the time) annual zines.
The 'Monster Meat' Zine has since had 4 separate issues; with multiple reprints, special edition covers, and many other products related to my monster boys. 🧟♂️
My second zine 'Celestial Bodies', an ETRA LARGE zine, filled with illustrations of queer bodies. I opened up submissions for REAL people to get a free portrait by me, as long as it was included in the book! As a larger guy, I wanted to create something that celebrated big guys. While the zine was successful, I realized I made it somewhat exclusionary. I didn't want to be the judge of whose body was the 'right' body for the zine. So I opened up model submissions to all genders; and all body types. Because everyone in our LGBTQIA+ community should love their body, and be celebrated for their uniqueness.
I loved the community connection that 'Celestial Bodies' gave me. While queer voices and art are being censored online, I wanted to create a spotlight for other queer artists! So, 'Queer Chat' was born! Each year 'Queer Chat' showcased up to 14 different queer artists from all over the world. With a bit of information on the artist, their work, and all the websites and links for readers.
Crowdfunding was instrumental in funding these projects; I can't thank backers enough, dude. At one point my online shop over 70 unique items; nearly all of them from crowdfunding. I joined 'Fatreon', created a business 'FaceFook', 'FeePop', etc.
I had turned into a social media machine. No stranger to this, I grew up with MySpace y'all. 🤣 I was posting daily across multiple platforms; constantly making graphics for online promotions of my shop. Spending nearly every waking moment either taking photos, scheduling posts, or creating new ones, all while trying to actively work on three annual zines. All of this, coupled with doomscrolling, and sales drying up with rampant censorship and the failing economy...I had created a monster, that wasn't so sexy.
So... in 2023?? I left the internet... I deleted every single social media platform; business and personal. Some that had 20 years of content. 😳 BEST DECISION EVER. If you can, do it. Social media ruined my mental health. Constantly comparing myself to others, valuing myself and my art by likes and sales, the CONSTANT bombardment of ads.
I closed up shop, and spent time recharging my batteries.
NOW I'M BACK! I've launched a website, and am thriving?
Mike :)
