Michael Carter

Artist Statement

Michael Carter as the artist, M.I.C Harder 9000, I work hard to develop paintings that speak both to me as well as those who have never been to a gallery or purchased original artwork, about the beauty of non-traditional works of society in the past century on music and culture. Part of my process before I begin with any medium is to read up on the artwork series as much as I can about the particular series that I am aiming to embody: for example, the sound of the prohibition, three kings of delta blues, and the Mississippi and famous author collection. Whether it’s ink, stencil cutout on watercolor paper with a box cutter, spray paint, or oil painting, I approach with an Ebony pencil to achieve a base style of illustration, mixing in folk art, graffiti, comic book elements fused with encryptions, morse code, and even hobo signs that capture the uniqueness of the people and places that surround the theme on canvas. I believe art provides not only visual pleasure, but also a sense of identity for the artist as well as the viewer, and helps people to reach a deeper and more meaningful level of connection with my work.