| MIKE MACNEIL –
ACHIEVING TRUE MASTERY By Debbie Ellison Picture it. You decide you want to learn an art. You discover a Master you want to learn from. Unfortunately, he is dead, but that doesn’t stop you. Your desire and determination are so strong, you take off for another country to research the master’s life, study his work, and “train” under him, so to speak. You go from “I don’t have a clue” to being one of the greatest Master Artisans in the world out of sheer determination, desire, and hard work (a little talent doesn’t hurt either). This is the story of Mike MacNeil, a master decorative artist, and one of the world’s most renowned and accomplished wood grain and marble artisans. To meet Mike, you might not guess he is one of the great masters. Your first guess may be that he is a comedian. He keeps you laughing and wondering what will happen next. He’s the “guy next door,” down to earth, spontaneous, and fun-loving. “Life happens,” he says. Yes, life happens, but Mike is not a man who sits around waiting for things to happen; he is a man who makes things happen. “You just deal with the hand you’re dealt, make the best of it.” He realized what he wanted in life and went after it, allowing nothing to stop him. You have to admire a guy like that. In 1993, Mike discovered and became fascinated with the work of Thomas Kershaw, an English decorative painter who lived in the 1800’s. Kershaw is considered to be the greatest wood grainer and marbler of all times. Mike was so impressed and inspired by Kershaw’s work, he took off for Europe to find out more about this artisan and what he did in the 1800’s. Mike holds a Certificate of Apprenticeship and is one of a handful of painters (along with Thomas Kershaw), ever to achieve the title of Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Painters, the highest professional recognition in the painting trade, a step above Master Painter. The Worshipful Company of Painters in London is the oldest painter’s union in the world, founded in the 13th century. At that time, a “painter” was a craftsman who worked on wood, wooden panels, metal, etc., while a "stainer" stained or painted canvas and other cloth. In 1502, the two craft guilds merged into the Worshipful Company of Painters and Stainers. Mike, who owns a painting company in California, is the first person born in North America to receive this honor. He also holds the distinction of Freeman of the City and Guilds of London and a Teaching Award from the President of the Japanese Painters Association. Mike also paints wall finishes, plaster finishes, etc. His clients include many celebrities including actors Charlie Sheen and George Clooney (not that he would ever name drop!), individuals, hotels, casinos, and restaurants. Mike is proud of the table he recently wood grained for Sheen and of the Piper Cherokee airplane he wood grained. The airplane took 100 hours to wood grain in mahogany and maple for a sheriff in Tampa. Mike believes everyone is creative, whether they are creative as a painter, a parent, a lawyer, doctor, or whatever. He says you don’t develop creativity – it develops you. “I don’t think it’s something you can plan,” he says. “You can work toward it. You can practice. Everybody has some sort of potential or creativity. It doesn’t matter who they are, they’re going to be good at something. It’s just finding what it is. It either comes to you or you stumble across it. You’ll find it somehow.“ Mike is not only an amazing artist, a world renowned marbler and wood grainer, he is an excellent teacher. He spent two years teaching in Japan and now teaches classes at various schools around the country. With his natural wit and humorous personality, he makes learning fun and effortless. In a recent class at Paintin’ the Town, Faux in Atlanta, students were amazed at how fun and easy he makes learning such a complicated art. Mike was born in Canada. After serving in the Canadian Navy, he served a four-year apprenticeship as a union painter in a shipyard under an Italian master painter. There he learned house and automotive painting, furniture refinishing, and wallpaper hanging. He also worked in the sign shop, learning lettering, sign writing, furniture refinishing, and wood graining. Thus, began Mike’s interest in and love of wood graining and marbling. Before going to Europe, he took a class in California where he met his mentor and long-time friend, English decorative painter William (Bill) Holgate, who was teaching the class. Bill was considered to be one of the best modern wood grainers and marblers. Mike says he saw Bill’s marbling and said, “This is really good, the best I’ve ever seen - next to Kershaw’s, of course.” Bill also knew of Thomas Kershaw’s work and was inspired by him. Bill and Mike became close friends and together went to England to pursue their fascination with Thomas Kershaw. They studied his life and works at various museums where his panels were displayed. Mike went to London, where he did more research on Kershaw, studied his panels at the Victoria & Albert Museum, and got slides of his work. Kershaw is one of Mike’s favorite subjects. Mike says when he first saw Kershaw’s work, he thought, “Oh, my God.” He looked at his own work and said, “I don’t have a clue.” He thought he was doing good work until he saw Kershaw’s panels. Mike says there were a lot of grainers and marblers in the 19th century, but Kershaw was the best and the fastest. Following in Kershaw’s footsteps, Mike is also known for his skill and speed. While in England, Mike came to the attention of the Worshipful Company of Painters and Stainers in London, and in 1994 was invited to submit samples of his decorative painting as a prerequisite for admission to the Company. Mike has accomplished much in his lifetime, but he is most proud of these seven panels of wood graining and marbling he painted for the judging. He says he spent days on each panel. The panels, along with his knowledge of the trade, were judged by Sir Roger DeGray, president of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in London; members of the Company; interior designers; architects; and artists to determine if his work was good enough to become a Freeman. That, he says, is the highlight of his career because that’s as high as you can go. Mike admits that during the judging he was “totally a nervous wreck” (even Kershaw would have been nervous!). While doing the panels, he looked at pictures of Kershaw’s work. Before he went in for the judging, he went to the Victoria & Albert’s Museum in London. Looking at Kershaw’s panels, he asked, “Are you with me on this one, buddy?” Then he went back to the hall where he was being judged. Obviously, Kershaw was with him because he was admitted. Had one judge objected to Mike's workmanship or professional presentation, he would have been denied admittance. Bill Holgate was also admitted as a Freeman. Two of Mike’s panels were later placed in an exhibit in London sponsored by Sir Roger DeGray – along with two panels by Thomas Kershaw. Although Mike did not take a lot of classes and is mostly self-taught, he says, “It’s not natural. It’s something you have to work at.” To improve a person’s skill level, he, like Kershaw, advises studying real marble and woods, nature being the best teacher. “Just practice,” he counsels. “My first marble was the ugliest thing you’ve ever seen in your whole life.” (Yes, there’s hope for beginners - even Mike was one once, although it’s hard to believe when you look at his work today). “Even your mom wouldn’t like it,” he continues, “you know what I mean? ‘Look, Mom, look what I did.’ Even she’d go, ‘You’re kidding me. That looks like marble?’ “ His advice to someone trying to grow their business and get to a higher level? “Surround yourself with people who are better than you. Like I hung out with Bill. He was better than I was. Same thing with a musician. If you hang out with better musicians, you become a better musician. Because I play guitar, base guitar (as if he wasn’t talented enough!); I played in bands in nightclubs in Ohio when I was younger. But I always made a point of hanging around with better musicians. That way I became a better musician.” Mike says Kershaw’s work was the standard he set for himself. He also attributes his success to his persistence, determination, studying the masters, finding a mentor, and setting high standards and goals for himself. He feels a positive attitude, taking a lot of classes from different people, and a desire to be the best you can be are also keys to success. “You’ve got to tell yourself you can do this and have a positive attitude, knowing that you’re a diamond in the rough. It takes a little work and a couple of cuts to polish you up. It’s possible. If I can do it, anyone can do it. I was determined.” Mike, once himself a diamond in the rough, is now a cut above, shining at the top of his art. He now sets the standard he was so driven to reach. Bill Holgate passed away two years ago. Mike says of his friend and mentor, “I wouldn’t be surprised right now if he changed those Pearly Gates to marble.” Is that what Mike’s going to do? “No, Bill’s already done it,” Mike says with a laugh. “I’ll wood grain them. I’ll paint over his marble and wood grain them.” Hmm, I wonder what Kershaw’s doing now. For more information about Mike MacNeil and Thomas Kershaw, and to see some of Mike’s work (even the airplane!), visit his website, www.mikemacneil.com, or call Mike at 805-377-0257. Learn from Mike through his videos and CD, or take one of his classes in person at Paintin’ the Town, Faux in Atlanta; Studio Primrose in Lake Forest, CA; Walnut Hill Paint in Dallas; or The Faux School in Fredrick, MD.(check his website for schedule). Debbie Ellison is not a marbler or wood grainer. She is, however, a freelance writer in Atlanta who is taking Mike’s advice and trying to be “the best writer she can be.” Contact her at DebbieEllisonInk@yahoo.com. ___________________________________________________________ This article may be shared with
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