This Visual Artist is Looking to the Future
By Annette Cinelli

Mike Finnegan has been interested in art since he was a kid; his uncle, Neal Portnoy, a well- known caricature artist who also does illustrations, played a big role in developing Mike’s fascination with art.

A Worcester native and graduate of Worcester Vocational High School, Mike attended Quinsigamond Community College before transferring to Notre Dame College to earn his BA in Graphic Design and Illustration. He is currently enrolled at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University and is working towards a Master of Fine Arts in Visual Arts. It is a theory-based program and a significant undertaking. Mike notes that, although it is a difficult program, it is definitely of significant value to him because it “sharpens you up and makes you a better artist.”

Mike believes that “When you’re in the arts, you should be good at many things but concentrate on one thing.” His “one thing” is painting, and he paints primarily with acrylic and oils on large canvases. However, he can also work in design, watercolors, pastels, photography, etc. He describes himself as “a figurative artist very interested in people.”

He has been inspired lately by the interaction of people and weather, more specifically by how weather affects people in their everyday lives, like how a hurricane can destroy a home to something as simple as the rain ruining a child’s day playing outside. Some of his other works are representations of well-known icons, like some of the Patriots’ players in motion, Harry Potter, Michael Jordan, and Tiger Woods. He not only uses brushes when he paints, but also Pallet knives (the tool artists use to mix their paints). This is the combination of techniques that his mentor uses, so it is one that he also decided to pursue.

Choosing a life in the arts is not choosing the easy path, but Mike is fully aware of that fact. Says this committed artist, “The ones who do succeed really stick with it and dedicate their world and life to being an artist.” So, willing to support his artistic career and passions by continuing to work at Leitrim’s Pub in Worcester, Mike plans to do exactly that, dedicating as much time and energy as possible to creating art, and then someday becoming a professor so that he can teach art at the college level.

“Worcester has a ton of people who want it [a larger art community] to happen, it just needs to grow. I’d like to see 20 or 30 galleries in the next 10 years.” And when that does happen, chances are we’ll see some of Mike’s work hanging in those galleries!

To check out some of Mike’s art, visit his website www.finneganart.com