Pike's Mike

Read About Kait’s Newest Passion Painting!

Kait and her 30x40 Oil Painting “Pike’s Mike”

I must of only taken 10 seconds worth of fast, quick photos of Mike posing with a giant fish, but he certainly disappoint. I remember looking at them and immediately thought, “Wow. These would make a killer painting.” It came down to 2 other photos, but I decided alright this is the one. This is the money shot right here. Next task? Find the time to paint it. It’s a problem I’ve had for well, years now. I’m thankfully always busy with creating commission pieces for clients, but I lack the discipline it takes to have an organized set schedule for myself. I become so focus on working on one painting at a time that I never make time for passion projects. Also knowing the fact that my passion painting wouldn’t be generating any guaranteed revenue verses working on commission paintings also makes it harder for me to separate and make the time.

In a time long long ago before an unwelcome presence we all now have come to know as Coronavirus happened, I was taking a casual walk through Pike Place Market in Seattle. It’s one of my favorite places to burn some time on a nice day in the city, and a lot of fun scenery. Almost two years ago I had my camera with me to practice my photography skills when I came upon Seattle’s world famous Fish Market. The first fishmonger I came across while working who is now known and loved named Mike, was exciting and entertaining to the guests, and more than willing to pose for my camera.

The last time I had created a painting in realism, in color oil paint just for the sheer joy of it, was 5 years ago with my Heinz Ketchup painting. Fun entrepreneur fact. I became so obsessed with working on my Heinz Ketchup painting that I didn’t make time to work on commissions. By the time I had finished the ketchup painting 3 months later, I found myself NEGATIVE in my bank account. No shame in my game to admit it. It’s all apart of the entrepreneur roller coaster, and a huge lesson I had to learn. Needless to say after learning that lesson, I’m sure its played a psychological role in being hesitant to work on a painting with no guarantees. So this time around with lessons learned, it’s time to make time.

I started the painting in February of 2020. Honestly there’s so much detail in the painting I didn’t know where to begin. You always start with the background of a painting, but yeah have you seen all the detail in the background? Woof. You just have to take a step back and do a section at a time to try not to feel so overwhelmed. I usually like to start with areas that are large with less detail so it tricks me into feeling like I’m getting more accomplished faster. March 2020. We all know what happens here. No need for an explanation. Any possible live painting events, auctions, commissions, have suddenly slipped through my hands. Being less busy sure got a lot easier. Business like the rest of the world drastically slowed down for me, but it was given time I had now to work on the Pike’s Market painting.

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Fast forward up to the end of June and a few hundred fish scales later, I finally finished the painting that I had dubbed in my mind as “Pike’s”. I didn’t know the initial name of the guy in the painting. I thought of calling him Derek, Eric, or maybe he even looks like a Josh? put on my FBI hat and scrolled on social media searching for his real name and found out his name is in fact Mike. It couldn’t have been more perfect. His name is Mike, and he works at Pikes. I got a hold of the fish market and asked if I could come down and take a photo with them and the painting, especially with Mike. Unfortunately Mike is in quarantine for a while since he has a young child, and I had to get the painting to the gallery I’m signed with to go on display for a summer show.

We’ll just have to catch Mike and a giant fish next time! I want to thank the guys and gals of Pike’s Fish Market for letting me come down to show off the painting and taking a photo with me, and especially to Mike. I was in a creative funk for awhile trying to find something to paint that I was excited about. I want to thank Mike for not only being a great sport and fun subject of my painting, but for helping to pull me out of a long rut.

If you’ve never had the chance to watch the fishmongers throw the fish at Pike’s Fish Market, make sure you put it on your bucket list.

https://www.pikeplacefish.com