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MICKLE creates portraits that range in style from striking photo-realism
to more painterly depictions. He works exclusively in pastel, enjoying
this "purest means of applying pigment to a surface."Although he prefers strong, simple compositions, Mickle is flexible in his approach to portraiture. "I am most interested in producing a satisfying portrait," he says. To achieve this objective, he often includes props, pets, and specific backgrounds in his paintings. Subjects may be shown amid interiors of heirloom furniture and Oriental carpets. Mickle began pursuing art seriously in 1968, after serving in the U.S. Navy. While in college, he studied and painted portraits under the direction of the late Jen Ayres, a well-known Virginia, artist. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Arts and Design and for years followed a career in advertising. Simultaneously, he continued working in portraiture and turned to painting full time in 1987.
His home base is east of the Mississippi, but Mickle has traveled extensively—from England to Texas—in the course of his work. His clientele includes individuals and families, corporations and governments. Subjects range in age from nine months to ninety years. Before he begins a painting, Mickle confers with the client to work out preliminary details such as the type of portrait desired, number of subjects, appropriate background, and clothing. He subsequently travels to the client's location and shoots a series of photographs, takes notes, and makes sketches as needed. A two-hour photographic session is usually adequate, even with multiple subjects. Mickle proceeds with the portrait in his Virginia studio. To keep the client involved in the creative process, he produces a full-size pencil sketch of his concept for the painting, which he sends to the client, along with reference slides of the subjects featured. He usually completes a portrait in six to twelve months, depending on his schedule and the complexity of the painting. Mickle continues to explore his chosen medium, discovering in pastel a fascinating range of artistic possibilities. He finds many sources of inspiration, from the elite among contemporary portrait artists to the old masters. A successful portrait is the result of a collaboration between artist and client, Mickle believes. "Anyone who commissions a portrait is making an emotional and financial investment. As an artist, it is my job to make that investment pay off, while creating a piece [of art] I, too, can appreciate." |
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