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Michael Breyette Interview

Interviews 46

Today I’m interviewing well known artist Michael Breyette, who has launched a new career as an author. He wrote Morning Glory, one of the stories in the anthology Illustrated Men, released recently by MLR Press.

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Hello Michael and thank you for agreeing to be interviewed on the site. I would like to start by asking you to tell us something about yourself.

I never know where to go with that question so I’ll just mention a few basics.  I live in central Massachusetts, I have a boyfriend and two cats.  I quit my job at the Postal Service just over 7 years ago and became a self supporting artist.  I enjoy music, cooking and long walks on the beach  🙂

As an artist, how would you define success?

I don’t think wealth or fame defines ‘success’.  I think you can have both and still not be a success.  I think the first thing is to love what you do, and then to have others love and appreciate what you do.  Sometimes that leads to wealth and fame, but they are just the side effects.

What I admire most about you is that you don’t use live models for your paintings (other than yourself). How difficult is it to come up with the images for your pictures? What is your creative process?

First comes the idea or concept I’m in the mood to do. I then create what I call a blueprint that I‘ll reference. Because I don’t have models or the setting in front of me, I create the blueprint to work from instead. Using reference images (from the web, magazines, my own pics) I cut and paste body parts together for my figures, and for the various elements of the background. Using photoshop I  stretch, distort, scale etc., until I have the poses, proportions and perspectives I want. From the blueprint I create a drawing, further refining, making alterations etc. Those anatomy lessons from massage school really come in handy. Then I transfer that drawing, the outline, to the pastel paper and start the actual piece. This part is the most fun. Because I’ve got the structure worked out I can concentrate on the facial expressions, the luscious skin tones, the shadows, textures, lighting and bringing it all to life as one cohesive scene that hopefully looks pretty real but doesn’t really exist.

You use pastels in your paintings, which is unusual and, I would think, a difficult medium in which to work. What’s the attraction for you of pastels instead of, for example oils, acrylics, watercolours or something else? Would you consider working in other mediums and if so which ones?

I love pastels because there is no issue of drying, too slow or too fast.  I can add colors and blend at any stage.  If I decide to change a figures shirt to blue, I can go back and add blue into the neck and chin of the figure where the shirt is reflecting on his skin.  I also don’t have to deal with those pesky brushes.  97% of the pastel painting I do with my fingers.  It really is finger painting that I do.   I’ve worked with oils watercolours and acrylics prior to pastels and though pastels have their drawbacks, for me the positives make them my medium of choice.

I can imagine a bust of one of your pictures reproduced in bronze or marble, gracing the collection of an art expert and collector.  🙂  Have you ever collaborated with another artist to produce something in another art form?

Last year photographer Mike Ruiz (of Bravo’s The A-List) commissioned  me for a portrait of himself.  After thinking of an angle, I suggested something inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s famous nude last photo shoot where she posed with a sheer scarf (famous photographer/famous photo shoot was my connection).  So Mike photographed himself with a sheer red scarf, and that is what I based the  pastel on.  Not another art form really but a collaborative creation by two visual artists.

As someone who appreciates art I know what I love and your work definitely pleases me. I have your book Summer Moved On published by Bruno Gmünder and a couple of your calendars. Looking back, was there ever a time when you weren’t sure that being an artist was the career you wanted?

It’s much more a situation of the art career choosing me rather than the other way around.  I never went to art school never looked for jobs in the art field.  Only when I started putting it out there and made money from my artwork did I believe it.  I could do something I really enjoyed and make enough to support myself…that was and still is amazing to me.

How has success changed you, other than the obvious financial advantages?

Those are two totally separate beasts!  I feel successful because I can do what I love, support myself and am not a cog in someone else’s business . I am overall happier with my life, but am the same goofy, shy person.    Financial advantages?  Well, there is apparently a huge misconception there.  Let’s just say I would be making more money at the post office…but like I said I may be one of the rare individuals that doesn’t measure success in wealth or fame.

You are now an author in addition to being an artist. Do you find the two careers complementary? If so, in what way?

It took me a long time to get used to answering “I’m an artist” when asked what I do.  I am a long way from calling myself an author.  I do think the two are very complementary, two sides of the same coin.  They both tell a story (at least my style of art) and set out to engage emotionally.  The art makes the imagination fill in the story, the writing asks the imagination to visualize it.  Both together can work, a movie director acts as both as he tells the story and illustrates it.

Illustrated Men, an anthology based on your art is an incredible piece of work – not only the great stories, but also the sixteen pieces of wonderful artwork that accompanied the seventeen stories. When I look at the pictures in the book the words that come to mind are “vibrant” and “emotional” How do you feel now that the book, which took over 2 years to finally be released, is here?

Amazed, proud, relieved.

What would you like to say about the stories in the anthology? Obviously I don’t want you to choose a favourite, but generally, do you feel they captured the essence of your paintings?

I think  all the authors did a great job getting into my head, while still taking me places I would never have thought of .  My big motivation was to see how a full story could be extrapolated around the single moment illustrated in my paintings. They did not disappoint.

You illustrated the cover of another anthology for MLR Press – Honorable Silence. Is this a new career direction for you?

It’s something I am open too, but not something I actively pursue.  I am usually approached.  I did several others a few years ago for Romentics.  In most cases it’s just a matter of licensing an existing work rather than creating something specific to the book.

You became a full time artist in 2003 and since then you have had three solo exhibits (maybe more?) What do you like best about exhibiting, outside of the sales?

I’ve actually had 6.  To be honest it’s far from my favourite aspect of being an artist.  I get numerous enquiries asking if I’m gonna have a show in this city or that city and while I’d like to give everyone who wants a chance to see my work in person, exhibiting is expensive, time consuming and just a lot of work to put together.   Even though I am fairly shy and the reception makes me nervous, my favourite part of exhibiting is giving people the opportunity to get the full impact of the works in person when they may be used to just seeing them at 72 dpi on a  computer screen, and hearing their reactions.

Of all your paintings, which one do you consider the finest example of your talent? One of my favourite paintings is Natural Wonder which is on my website where I can see it every day. Other excellent pieces are Snow White, A Place in the Sun, My Morning Sun and on and on.

That’s a tough question.  It’s very hard for me to perceive my work in that way.  I’d like to think my talent isn’t just technical rendering with pastels, but lies more in an empathic connection with the viewers.  It’s connecting various moments and emotions with others,  tapping  into and sharing daydreams and fantasies, our lives.  For some reason my work resonates with people.  Certain people are drawn to certain pieces, so I don’t think one piece can represent that. That ‘talent’ (if that’s what it is) is evident when considering the whole body of work.

You are now well known in the art world and elsewhere. Is there one accomplishment that you have yet to achieve, and if so, what would that be?

Being on the inside looking out it’s very hard for me to judge how well known I am.  I think it’s just a minor percentage of a small niche ‘gay art’ market, but every now and then I am surprised.  I suppose it would be nice to be as financially well off as some might perceive I am. If I was, I’d love to hire my friends who don’t like their current jobs. Maybe open a gallery and have them run it and handle the business aspects of things, bookkeeping, promotion, answering interview questions (just kidding), while I can spend more time on my artwork.

You have a great sense of humour and I loved your answer to this question in another interview – a question that many men have long pondered.  😉

When does size matter?

In real estate.

Tell us about your upcoming book Seasons of Love which will be released by Bruno Gmünder very soon.

Since my work reflects my mood, and my mood is affected by the world around me. This book presents my work almost as a ‘year in the life’,  grouping them into the four seasons.  Romance is also a major theme in my work so, “Seasons of Love” ties them together quite nicely.  This is the second collection of my work they have published and consists primarily of pieces I’ve done from 2007 through 2010.

Thank you Michael.

Thank you!

Michael Breyette’s Contact Information

email:  shop@breyette.com

website: http://www.breyette.com/

 

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46 comments

    • Alex
      Michael’s paintings are even more beautiful when viewed on his site. There are a couple that I’ll be getting for my home. 🙂

  • I felt amazingly blessed to have been able to review Illustrated Men. Each pastel and story was erotic, endearing, and beautiful in is own way.

    My favorite painting is The Underwear Drawer. I’m not even sure why, maybe that it is sexy and vulnerable without the appearance of trying to solicit those feelings.

    Thanks for the wonderful interview Michael!

    • Cole
      You’re right. You were privileged to review this anthology because it’s so beautiful. My signed copy arrived a few weeks ago and it’s really beautiful. I have been a fan of his work for quite a while.

  • wonderful interview and beautiful art 🙂

    Can’t help it, but my favourite bit of the interview was the answer to the ‘When size matters’ question 😀

    • Cayendi

      Wasn’t his answer the coolest thing? I wish more M/M writers wwould appreciate that comment. lol. But his art is what struck me when I first went on his site by mistake a few years ago. I never looked back.

      • Isn’t that how we find most interesting things? By ending up on certain sites by accident?

        I hadn’t heard of him before landing on your site, but I’ll have to look up Michael’s art more often. There are a couple I wouldn’t mind staring at for inspiration 😉

    • Val
      I can’t believe Michael creates all of his images using his imagination. When I realized at first that he didn’t use live models I was amazed.

    • Hi Michael

      Thanks for stopping by. I wouldn’t have done the interview if I didn’t personally love your art, but I’m sure you figured that out. 🙂 Most of us wish that we could own one of your pieces and I will definitely be getting my favourite to hang on my wall at home so that I can see it there as well as on the site. 🙂

      I really appreciate the time you took out of your very busy schedule to do the interview.

  • Well done interview Wave. It’s great to get to know a little more about Michael and his artistic process. You chose some wonderful examples of his work to accompany the interview as well. Just beautiful! And thanks Michael for indulging us.

    • Thanks Tj. Michael is as nice as he’s talented and he was very accommodating when we worked on the interview.

      As an artist yourself I’m sure you appreciate Michael’s pictures even more than the rest of us.

      • Yes I do indeed. Figure painting and drawing is very difficult – much more so than landscapes which I do. Like you, I hope to have one of his pieces one day – if I could ever choose just one!

  • OMG!! Michael’s work is AMAZING! I just visited his website and cracked up at the opening page Enter or “PANIC”, but seriously all the work I just viewed…..just WOW. I think I know what to ask for for my Birthday 😉 I wonder if my husband will listen or am I going to have steal the credit card…..hmmmm

    • Hi Stace
      His work is just incredible and I can’t say enough good things about it. His prints are not expensive (of course that depends on the size) lol.

  • I’ve been drooling over…errrr… I mean ADMIRING Michael Breyette’s work for a long time now. It’s great to get to know more about him through this interview.

      • You know me so well! It took a few tries to get it all read, but I managed. Lovely visuals distract me so easily, and his are so, so lovely. But he’s fascinating, too!

  • Beautiful Art. Thanks for introducing this artists work. His website features tons of items. Im gonna have to get something from his site.

    • hannah
      Michael’s work is really wonderful and I’m sure that you can find a picture that you will love. He sure hooked me in. 🙂

  • Wave, thank you for interviewing Michael! And Michael, thank you so so much for all the beautiful artwork you’ve created! I’m a big fan 🙂 Your artwork definitely resonates with me, because the subjects’ emotions come through so clearly. That gives the work an incredibly vivid life, you know? I don’t know anything about art, but that’s what I get from it, for whatever that’s worth.

    BTW, congratulations on your debut as an author! I haven’t read the book yet (been buried in my own projects, OMG) but I’m looking forward to it 😀

    • Ally
      Michael was a delight to interview and not only because of the ‘research.’ 🙂 His art speaks for itself and his emotion is on the line with every single picture.

      The book is great too — I actually read it (when I could get past all of those hot looking guys). lol

  • Great interview and I too love Michaels artwork, the pastels are gorgeous!
    I plan to buy “Illustrated Men” partly for the artwork and will check out Michaels webpage also.

  • Great interview, Wave. I really enjoyed all the questions, and Michael’s answers.

    Michael’s art is beautifully executed. I recognised Mike Ruiz’s portrait straightaway without seeing the written explanation. What an interesting idea to use Marilyn’s pose as an inspiration. I loved that photo shoot.

    • Hi Gaycrow
      thank you! It was difficult to come up with questions that would allow Michael to open up about his art which was what I was after, and he didn’t disappoint.

      Wasn’t Mike Ruiz’s protrait spectacular?

  • Thanks Michael for a really fine, classy interview. Your work and your career path are amazing. Both are grounded in everyday life, but somehow elecit a sense of joy, which can elude us in everyday life, especially in this season of winter. Thanks for the inspiration, and the reminder of how good life really is.

    • Hi David
      thank you for dropping by and reading Michael’s interview. He’s a great talent and I was privileged to interview him.

  • An excellent interview, Wave and Michael! I loved to learn more about both Michael’s art and the artist, I think this really brought it out.

    Michael, it was a treat to hear how you measure success, and I’ll know I’ve “arrived” when/if I can say that for myself. Keep up the great work, I love it! 🙂

    • Thanks Clare. Michael is a wonderful person to interview because he’s easy to talk to and his answers are always on point.

      It must have been a treat for you to write a story inspired by one of his paintings.

  • Great interview Wave…and thanks to Michael for letting us learn a bit about him 🙂

    Beautiful and Amazing are two words that always come to mind when I see any of Michael’s works.

    Natural Wonder has always been my favorite.

    • Hi Elaine

      Thanks for the kind words.

      Michael is such a talented artist and, like you, Natural Wonder has always been my top favourite of all his paintings. I have had it on the site since I first saw it almost 3 years ago so tht I can look at it every day, and soon it will be on the wall in my living room.:)

  • Thanks everybody for the kind comments! The whole “Illustrated Men” project has introduced me to some very nice people in the literary world. I really had no idea how big a genre male/male fiction really was.

    And thanks ~Wave~ for introducing me and my work to even more people!

    • Thanks for stopping by Michael. It was my privilege to interview you, and the fact that so many poeople stopped by who loved your work is a good indication of how wonderful the paintings are.

      M/M romance is getting bigger every day as more and more authors are lured into this world. 🙂

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