Michael Stone Art

Author: @MichaelStone

  • Getting Ready to Launch

    A surreal chamber filled with clocks, symbols, and cats, where a cloaked figure stands beneath red threads and glowing shelves.

    Over the past few months, I’ve been shaping this site into something much bigger than a portfolio. Yes, it will showcase my art, but I want it to be more than a static gallery. My goal is to create a space where I can connect with the people who care about what I’m building, share the creative process more openly, and experiment with new ways of bringing ideas into the world.

    When I think about where my work has lived until now—social platforms, scattered galleries, NFT marketplaces—it’s been fragmented. This site is where everything finally comes together. It will hold the surreal art you’ve come to expect, but also the stories behind it, new experiments, and even services that extend beyond fine art.

    Built for Supporters First

    This site is built with real supporters in mind—the ones who seek out the work, not just stumble across it in a feed. Social media is fleeting; this is permanent. My hope is that here, I can have more direct conversations about the art, the design choices, and the experiments that may or may not become full projects.

    I also want this site to reflect the way I actually work: layered, experimental, sometimes messy, always changing. That means you’ll see polished series side by side with creative sketches and works-in-progress. Think of it as a kind of creative sandbox, open to anyone curious enough to look inside.

    The Coming Shop

    One of the features I’m most excited about is the Shop, which will roll out soon. For the first time, supporters will be able to bring pieces of this work into their daily lives. The Shop will include prints and canvases, as well as merchandise like tees and mugs—objects that carry the surreal energy of the artwork but live in practical, everyday spaces.

    This isn’t about mass production—it’s about thoughtful accessibility. A canvas on a wall, a mug on a desk, a print tucked into a reading nook—each one is a way of making art part of your everyday rhythm.

    Bridging Digital and Physical

    Another cornerstone of this launch is the integration of NFTs. My digital ecosystem is an essential part of what I’ve been building, and I don’t plan to leave it behind. For now, the site will feature direct links to my existing NFT offerings, giving collectors immediate access. Down the line, as the site grows, I’ll implement direct minting from here, making it easier than ever to support and collect.

    In the end, this is about blending worlds: physical works you can hold or wear and digital works you can own on the blockchain. Both are real. Both matter. And both belong here.

    Expanding Into Design Services

    This site is also my home base for graphic design services. Alongside my art, I’ll be offering innovative as well as traditional design work, including:

    • Logo design and branding support for individuals and organizations
    • Poster and flyer design for events and campaigns
    • Publication design such as ePubs, booklets, and digital catalogs
    • Web design and layout services for creative projects and small businesses
    • Pretty much anything that can be crafted through Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign

    Design has always been part of my creative identity, and this site is the place where I can bring those skills forward for collaborators, clients, and supporters alike.

    A Beginning, Not an Ending

    The launch of this site is just the start. My hope is that it becomes a hub where community, creativity, and design intersect. A place where I can share new artwork, offer services, experiment with formats, and give back through things like free ePubs.

    Thank you for being here at the beginning. Your support makes this possible, and I can’t wait to share what comes next.

  • Finding My Voice Through Design: The Journey to My Own Creative Space

    A surreal photorealistic scene of a faceless man in a black coat decorated with colorful cats, standing in a checkerboard-filled studio surrounded by swirling cosmic patterns and glowing geometric shapes.
    Photorealistic surreal artwork featuring a faceless man in a patterned coat amid a cosmic, checkerboard studio.

    For years, my design work lived in scattered folders, hidden away on hard drives, and shared only in small, private circles. I was a designer, yes—but my work existed mostly in the shadows, created for clients, class projects, and personal exploration, but never fully given a home that reflected me.

    Creating my own website wasn’t just about building a portfolio—it was about building a space where my voice, style, and creative perspective could live in the open. A place where my graphic design skills could meet my artistry without compromise.

    The Early Steps: From Private Practice to Public Presence

    The decision to share my work more widely didn’t happen overnight. It began as a quiet thought during my studies, as I realized how much of my creative energy was being poured into pieces that would never be seen beyond the immediate audience. Whether it was conceptual branding, surreal illustrations, or experimental layouts, each project felt like a piece of my personal story—one that deserved a life beyond my desktop.

    But putting my work online was more than just uploading images. I had to think about who I was as a designer. My aesthetic—rooted in surrealism, expressionism, and folk-art influences—needed to be framed in a way that felt authentic. The layout, the typography, the way each project was presented—all of it had to reflect the intentionality I put into the work itself.

    The Creative Challenge of Building My Space

    Designing my own website was, in many ways, the most personal project I’ve ever taken on. Unlike client work, where constraints are clear and briefs are well-defined, this was an open canvas. I had to be both the client and the designer—defining the goals, setting the tone, and ensuring that the end product truly represented who I am.

    I chose a clean, navigable structure so visitors could easily explore my work, but also made space for moments of surprise—subtle visual touches, playful layouts, and personal notes that give a glimpse into my process. It was important that the site felt like mine, not just another generic portfolio template.

    More Than a Portfolio—A Living Creative Hub

    My website isn’t just a gallery of finished work; it’s a place to share experiments, process shots, and personal projects that blur the line between art and design. It’s a home for my evolving creative identity, where I can explore new mediums, document my design thinking, and connect with an audience who resonates with my vision.

    In a way, building my site was like opening the front door of my creative life. It’s an invitation—not just to view my work, but to understand the ideas, research, and experimentation that shape it.

    Looking Forward

    Launching my site was only the first step. I see it as a living, breathing part of my creative practice—something that will grow, shift, and adapt alongside my work. Whether I’m adding new projects, writing about design insights, or experimenting with interactive elements, it will remain my space to explore and share freely.

    If my work connects with someone, sparks a thought, or inspires them to create something of their own, then I’ve succeeded. And for me, that’s what design is really about—connection, curiosity, and the joy of making something worth sharing.