'Artist' Wallace's endless passion for painting
Published:Saturday | August 25, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Nackeshia Tomlinson, Gleaner Writer
BRAES RIVER, St Elizabeth:
A DEFT stroke of a paintbrush, holding his breath to get even lines, painting without a physical outline are techniques that Mike Wallace uses in his work.
His main career highlight includes a painting of a Holland Bamboo likeness in 2005, which was presented to former Governor General Sir Kenneth Hall on a visit to St Elizabeth.
Otherwise known as 'Artist', Wallace paints on the walls of bars and shops, headstones, schools and churches.
Wallace told The Gleaner that he realised his talent while at basic school, where he would doodle in his exercise books, which he would take home to show his mother.
"I can remember at five years old, I would draw in my book and take it to mommy and she would say it pretty." During that period and beyond, he also received rave reviews from persons outside of his family circle.
"I used to draw and make things out of clay, so people used to get excited, because them know dis likkle bwoy can draw, make chart, draw diagrams (and do) many things."
Officially, he started his career in 1982 when he left high school. He told The Gleaner that his first job was to paint an 18x26 landscape scene for a lady who lived about a mile from him. His reward was $150 and unlimited advertising from the lady, who hung the painting in her house. "People would inquire and tell other people and that spread mi name," said Wallace.
Painting his whole life
Except for a six-month stint as a temporary teacher, which he said was not his field, Wallace has been painting ever since.
He said most of the requests he gets are for sign painting and a few portraits. Wallace said he is not a fan of portraits, which he finds challenging.
"Sometimes mi paint people and them nuh like it. When them ask mi fi do portrait, mi send them to someone who is better at it than mi." He is also not a fan of abstract art, as he prefers to stick to the realism genre.
Wallace said he gets ideas from other artists for inspiration, the Internet or from his environment. He said his self-determination and love for the field has kept him going over the years.
A good attitude is another contributing factor that has kept Wallace motivated.
"To be serious, you have to focus. You do a piece a work today, and it nuh dat bright, tell yourself that the next one going to be better. Practice goes a long way." Although he hasn't pursued studies after high school, Wallace said he keeps himself informed by researching the work of famous artists such as Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Jamaica's own Barrington Watson, whom he considers to be exceptional.