The Barefoot Artist

Michno, 35, grew up on a farm in Harnett County, and today lives in Lillington with her daughters, 12-year-old Lindsey and 9-year-old Heather. When she was the age her daughters are now, she immersed herself in her newfound hobby: painting. She went on to study fine arts at Sandhills Community College, but following college, she temporarily veered off her artistic pathway for a few years. Then, one day four or five years ago, she was working at a customer service job, when it occurred to her that most of the time that she spent on the phone with customers, she also spent doodling. Michno realized it was time to return to her art.

While her first love is creating individual works of art on canvas, she was all too aware that the term “starving artist” has its basis in fact. So, she decided to pursue a more marketable line of work: murals. She convinced a friend who owned a local restaurant to allow her to paint a mural on one of the restaurant walls. The Harnett County News covered the story, dubbing Michno “the barefoot artist” when the reporter noted that she slipped her shoes off while working. Explaining her penchant for painting sans shoes, Michno says, “I paint with my shoes off for comfort mainly.” It wasn’t until a couple of years later that Michno actually began using the catchy nickname, when she realized that people were having trouble recalling and spelling her last name (it’s pronounced mick-no). She now includes a pair of tiny bare feet next to her signature on all of her artwork, including murals.

Her big break came in 2002 when she was tapped by decorator Pat Hargis, of Angier Paint, Wallpaper and Carpet Service, to paint a mural in a Parade of Homes house built by Stancil Builders, Inc. Since then, Michno has continued to work closely with Hargis on many projects. She often does murals and faux finishes in homes built by Stancil Builders, Inc. and Raynor Builders, Inc. While much of her work is in Wake and Johnston counties, some jobs take her further from home. Her paints and brushes have been to the North Carolina mountains, as well as to the coast. She has also done work in South Carolina and Virginia.

Michno says she is well-suited to do murals for a couple of reasons. First, she likes working on a large scale. Second, “I work at a very fast pace,” she says. “You have to do that to do murals. You have to get in, get the job done, and get out.”

Bathrooms are especially popular rooms for murals, says Michno, although no room or space is off-limits. She painted one mural on the risers of stairs, giving the impression that a stream is running down the staircase, its banks covered with rocks and flowers. In kitchens, Michno says, she is usually asked to do faux finishing rather than murals, simply because much of the wall space is covered by cabinetry, tile work and appliances.

Murals run the gamut from subtle to dramatic, says Michno, noting that her clients have requested everything from Vegas casino scenes to peaceful garden settings. Some homeowners ask to see a sketch before she begins so they can visualize what the finished product will look like, but often people who are familiar with her work will “just give me the wall,” she says. “They trust what I can do. That’s a compliment.”

She notes that people are increasingly showing an interest in canvas murals painted on canvas and then affixed to the wall and finished off with a frame or molding. The advantage of this type of mural is, of course, that it’s mobile. Should the homeowners decide to move, they can simply take the mural off the wall, roll it up, and take it with them. What’s more, the portability aspect doesn’t mean size must be sacrificed; six feet by eight feet is a common size for a canvas mural, according to Michno.

She admits that the art field is tough and competitive, which makes her all the more appreciative that she is able to make a living by working in it. “It’s a dream,” she says. “All I ever wanted to do is paint.”

For more information, visit www.thebarefootartist.com, or meet the Barefoot Artist in person September 22-24 at the Southern Ideal Home Show - booth #2236. 

Kathy Grant Westbrook is a Freelance Writer