Meet Mike Alonzo 

MIKE ALONZO was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and lived there until as a young U.S. Marine he was sent to California. After his discharge and schooling, he returned there and worked in the Aerospace industry until his early retirement.

Mike began painting about 1970, studying with Dirk Smit, a transplanted Chicago area artist. Mr. Smit painted in a style Mike thought of as “New England,” but is now known as “plein air.” Later workshops with famed artists Ted Goeschner, Charles Movalli and Paul Strisik, along with mentoring by friend Joyce Pike, shaped his development. Today he is primarily known for his loosely executed oil landscape and harbor scenes.

Mike explains, “I am one of those lucky people who sees a painting wherever I look. Early in my marriage, my wife would smile when I’d say ‘Look at that sky! Layered clouds, cerulean below, up to cobalt, and ultramarine at the top.’ She’d laugh and say ‘you mean blue, right?’ After 37 years, I think she understands now.”

“It is frustrating, at times, to try to capture the mood and lighting of the scene before me but, if I succeed, as Clint Eastwood liked to say ‘it makes my day.’ If I don’t paint for awhile I get restless and mildly unhappy. So I guess the reason I paint is because I have to.”

Mike has shown in galleries in California, New Orleans and his work has been accorded many honors. His memberships include California Art Club, Oil Painters of America, Western North Carolina Plein Air Painters, and the Art League of Henderson County.

MIKE ALONZO is proudly represented by WICKWIRE fine art/folk art in Hendersonville, North Carolina.