SORA instructor Steve Ohlrich will be conducting several drawing classes and painting workshops in July and August. More details are here. Details on Steve’s current exhibitions can be found here.

Below is an interview with SORA instructor and professional artist, Mike Chelich. Mike has taught at SORA since its founding in 1992. Mike and SORA director, Bruno Surdo, both studied at Atelier Lack in Minneapolis in the early 80s. In addition to teaching at SORA, Mike has an active commissioned art and portrait painting practice. Mike discusses his art educational background at Chicago’s American Academy of Art and Atelier Lack in Minneapolis, his teaching experience at SORA and his reflections about his own work. –Ben Rathbone

Click here for Mike’s bio
Click here for Mike’s personal website

BR: Can you tell me about your background. How and when did you decide you wanted to be an artist?

Mike: Since I was very young, probably four or five years old, I had been doing art. I had an interest in all sorts of things as most boys do, dinosaurs, superheros and comic books. I had an interest in anatomy even as a little kid and was putting blood vessels on dinosaurs. I knew that I wanted to be an artist early, especially a comic book artist. In adition, I also loved wildlife and the natural world. When I got into high school, I saw the work of a wildlife artist named Charles Frace. After I saw his work, I knew I wanted to be serious about becoming a wildlife artist. That was in early high school. So that was the formation of my interests in art.

BR: When did you graduate high school and what did you do after that?

Mike: I graduated from high school in 1982. Leading up to that time, I was a little aimless. I put off even applying to college so lets just say I was very fortunate in the way things happened. I tried for a scholarship contest to the American Academy of Art in Chicago where you had to draw for 6 hours, and then submit your work. I did that and won a tuition scholarship. That pretty much decided it. I was interested in the American Academy, anyway, so that sealed the deal.

BR: What was the scholarship contest like?
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