Arts & Antiques
The Happy Artist
Mike Savage paints scenes that make you feel good.

A blonde lady naps in a chair with a cat on her lap. Beside her, a glass of white wine rests on a piano. Outside, the sun shines on empty garden chairs. Some artists would paint this as a sob story — Barbara’s drunk by 5 o’clock…again. That kind of thing.

Not Mike Savage. 

In his hands, the scene evokes the warm feeling of sharing wine with friends on a shady patio in June. That’s because Savage is a happy guy. The friendly Strawberry Hill native shatters the image of the brooding artist. After graduating from the University of Kansas with a degree in fine arts, he worked in advertising and co-owned a company. Meanwhile, he painted. While displaying his art at J.J.’s restaurant in 1987, his style evolved into what it is today. Soon, he quit his day job.

You’ve probably seen his work, which is featured at the Plaza Art Fair and area shops, including his own Sav-Art Gallery at 4504 State Line. Or perhaps a painting hangs in a friend’s living room. Savage does commission work — painting anything from beloved pet pugs to the view from a hotel room in Hawaii.

These can be arranged through the gallery, which is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday (but call 913.236.9400 before stopping by), which offers custom framing and features artists Kari Heybrock, Tracy Hale, Billy Ray Mangham, Kevin Sink, Cathy Broski, Craig Hetler, Jill Kernodle, and Brad and Sundie Ruppert. 

We recently caught up with Savage as he prepared for an art show just days away. 

Q: Describe a typical day for you.
A: I get up pretty early (4:30 a.m.) and read the paper — the whole thing. That’s how I know what’s going on in the world because I don’t watch much TV. Then

I get the 13- and 10-year-old off to school. I work in the studio from 9 a.m. to 2:30 or 3 p.m. That’s about as far as my brain will take me, creative-wise.

I grab a beer after work to connect with people because I’m mostly by myself all day.

Q: Are you more of an introvert or extrovert?
A: Definitely an extrovert. When I paint, I’m introverted, but I’m pretty outgoing. And I think my work suggests that. My subjects are all over the place.

Q: What makes you paint the world in a cheerful light?
A: People give me a hard time and say, “Your paintings are nice and they’re happy.” I like to be happy. I don’t have much angst in me. If it’s a rainy day, I say, “I love these days. It’s a great day to roll over and read a book.” I see the beauty in every day.

Q: How did you arrive at the distinct style you have today?
A: It’s pretty natural the way it happens, but it took me a long time to get that way. It’s like a river with little tributaries. If it looks good, you take it. I’m actually going back to school now, getting my master’s degree, taking art classes. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I wanted to see what else I could do. In one class, we’re working with oil paint. That’s different for me because I paint with acrylics. Our assignment was to do a big painting of food. I asked the teacher what kind of food. She said, “Anything.” I said, “Tell me what to do. I want to be a follower. I want to stop leading myself for a while.” She said to pray about it and then paint food.

Q: How do you take everyday things like food and wine and depict them as art?
A: The way I paint, it breaks things down and loosens them up. It’s not seeing it the way it actually is. I don’t know how to do it, it just comes natural. I tell students when I teach a class, “I can show you how to do it, but why would you want to paint like I paint? Your life’s going to show you what to do.”

Q: What do you love the most about being an artist?
A: All I ever knew growing up was drawing. Now I’m doing what I love, and I work for myself. And that I persevered long enough that it came true. I did so many jobs that I just hated it there. The day I walked out of my company, I did the old Toyota jump.

Q: What’s the hardest part of being an artist?
A: The business part of it. And the hardest part when you’re younger is wondering — are you ever going to make it? You’re working hard at it. Are you ever going to catch a break? You’ve got to stick with it. It’s like anything. And you’ve got to take the opportunities you’re given. I’ve done some less than ideal shows. If it’s seen, it’s seen. Make it work and go look for it.

Q: Why do you think people like your paintings so much?
A: Most of them just say, “It makes me smile. I wake up in the morning, and it makes me feel good.”