“I refer to my art as being ‘2200 miles in the making’ and that's because my journey as an artist didn’t reallybegin until I set foot on the Appalachian Trail. Once I discovered passion, all else followed.” - MW Soon after moving to Asheville, NC, to pursue a career as a pencil artist, Mike developed an overwhelming uncer-tainty in his abilities as an artist, and as an individual. His passion for creating had vanished, so he packed up hispencils and resigned from drawing. In 2014, a hike across the summit of a bald mountain called Max Patch, reignited the flame to create as he cameupon the iconic Appalachian Trail. Immediately he was overcome with the desire to draw once again. However,it wasn't going to be as easy as picking up a pencil. The trail itself was also calling him to make the 2,200-milepilgrimage from Georgia to Maine. Two months later, with no backpacking experience, carrying two sketchbooksand an assortment of pencils, he left Springer Mountain, GA, and headed north.His journey on the trail not only strengthened his belief in himself, but it also gifted him with an undying love fornature that he's eager to share with others. Mike continued to work in pencil, but he quickly learned it was timeto branch out of the black-and-white world of graphite and truly convey the vivid imagery he experienced on thetrail each day, so he taught himself a colorful new medium, pastel.Since then, Mike has thru-hiked numerous other trails looking always looking for inspiration. He has learned thatart is not just a product of creativity; it is an expression of experiences. When he paints, he’s not merely capturingthe beauty of what he sees; he’s also capturing the emotions behind the subject. To the viewer, this invokes apersonal connection, as he encourages them to find their paths of inspiration to follow and embark on their ownself-fulfilling journey.Highlights:Publications• AT Journeys ‘Trail Muse’ Summer 2021• AT Journeys ‘Trail Connection Thru Art’ Summer 2020• Abilene Reporter ‘Father & Daughter Bond Over Faith & Art’ Jan 2020• International Artist Magazine Featured Artist Fall 2020• Asheville Made ‘One Artist's Long Trail To The Top’ Oct 2022• Carolina Home and Garden Winter 2023• Bold Life ‘A Trail of Appreciation’ Dec 23