By Bonnie Gangelhoff
Michael Parker, Live, Love, Laugh, oil, 24 x 30.
ART EDUCATION: Bachelor of fine arts in illustration from Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. Master’s degree in fine art from Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA.
STYLE: Narrative realism.
MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE WAY YOU WORK: It takes me a long time to get a painting from concept to completion. It usually takes several months.
SECOND-CHOICE CAREER: Cowboy.
BEST ADVICE RECEIVED: Paint what you know. I’ve heard this from mentors and professors through the years.
CREATIVE SPARK: It usually comes from stories, watching people, and observing how they interact with each other. I’m also inspired by a good movie with a good plot. I’m a big fan of Alfred Hitchcock movies.
ONE THING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: I lived in Brazil for two years.
FUTURE GOALS: I plan on teaching full time and continuing to paint. Right now I’m teaching drawing part time at Brigham Young University.
PRICE RANGE: $200 to $8,000.
REPRESENTATION: www.michaelsparker.com.
Featured in our annual “21 Under 31” issue in September 2010