Please welcome El Dorado AIE artist Mike Means and Warren, Arkansas photographer Michael Weatherford and their exhibition “Natural Inspirations” to the Lobby Gallery. The exhibition will be show February 2 – March 3, 2024 with an artists’ reception on Thursday, February 15 from 5:30-7:00pm.
Means loves to draw and works with many different art forms including pastels, acrylics, 3D physical modeling, and digital. Weatherford is an avid nature photographer and professional forester who lives on his very own, mini nature preserve in Warren. Many of his photos in this exhibition were actually taken there. Means and Weatherford collaborated to feature Weatherford’s photos of nature while Means conducted an art study of those photos.
Means stated, “I have seen Michael Weatherford’s photos for many years on social media. I asked to reference his images in some drawings and paintings, using several of his pics as an inspiration for those pieces. Some of my pieces are just straightforward art based on photos by Michael. Other drawings get more fanciful but are still very much influenced by Michael’s photos. I thought it would be an interesting collaboration – doing a show featuring the two artists together in one space.”
Michael Weatherfod has been taking pictures since purchasing his first “real” camera, a Pentax Spotmatic, many decades ago while serving in the U.S. Air Force. These days he uses Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses. Weatherford actively advocates for the protection/preservation of nature and, through his photography, seeks to foster an appreciation for the natural world.
Originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, Mike Means attended the University of Arkansas and studied Graphic Arts for 2 years. He then took on another adventure and joined the U.S Navy. In the Navy, he remained in the field of Graphic Design and spent almost 10 years as a “Drafstman/Illustrator” for the Navy/Government. After leaving the service, Means worked as a Graphics Designer for several Companies and now has his own business where he does freelance design work worldwide. Additionally, Means is an AIE artist where he goes into the local elementary schools and helps add different angles to many of their art projects. Means also teaches computer art classes at SAAC and has for the past 15 years.