About Michael Creech
I did not take a “traditional” route (if there is such a thing) to becoming an artist. I studied International Studies and Spanish in College, traveled for a year after college and then worked in student travel and study abroad for 10 years after college, traveling to 40+ countries along the way, and marrying my best friend and fly fishing buddy. After that, with an eye on being home more and starting a family, I went back to school to become a teacher, and taught elementary school and social studies in Colorado. But all the while, I was painting.
I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, with art in my blood. Some of my fondest early memories are painting with my artist aunt, and going to see her booth at art festivals in Charleston, especially at Piccolo Spoleto. There were gallery shows, opening nights, and art walks. My aunt’s children went on to become artists as well - painters and photographers. While I was finding my way in college, I didn’t have the courage to study art full time, but always had an art class on the schedule. And in all my travels I always spent an inordinate amount of time in art museums and finding and getting excited about beauty and joy in all sorts of places.
Finally, in 2007 I got some acrylic paints and made my first attempt since college and painted a scene from Antiparos, Greece, where my wife and I got engaged. This opened the door for painting from my travels, and I painted from Greece, Nicaragua, Bhutan, and many spectacularly beautiful places. But there was something about painting subjects that are not as universally considered “beautiful” that was appealing. Sharing and expressing beauty in often overlooked places.
It started with painting one fly. It was a fly that a friend had tied for me not to fish with, but to wear as a boutonnière for my wedding. I painted often for a while, sold some small pieces at a gallery and directly, but having 2 children and teaching does not leave for a lot of extra time. I took classes and workshops locally when I could. As the kids grew and began school, I could paint more, and here we are. Still finding beauty in an atypical form of still life as well as nature, travel, and experience.