A natural-born artist, Michael Seewald is still going strong at age 70 with his paintings and fine art photography gallery in La Jolla.
“My mom was an artist, taught me painting when I was a kid, Paint By Numbers,” said Seewald, whose gallery is at 7863 Girard St. on the bottom floor in La Plaza. “I entered my first art contest painting windows at the mall in Chula Vista when I was 13 and won first place.”
Seewald has owned an art gallery since 1983. Of the transition from painting to photography, Seewald noted there never has been one. “To me, they’re both arts: There’s no difference,” he said. “Both ways I’m in charge of the product from beginning to end. And it’s an artistic art process.”
The fine arts photographer has done a little bit of everything during his artistic career to get by, from framing to commercial art, even doing weddings and boudoir photography as well as family portraits. “I didn’t turn down anything,” he said. “As soon as they called, I said, ‘Yes, I’m a pro at whatever you need.’”
Through the years, Seewald has traveled the world over to find his photographic and artistic muses. His list of destinations reads like the United Nations featuring 55-plus countries the likes of Kenya, China, Nepal, France, Ireland, Russia, Hawaii, Spain, etc.
Starting out in North County, Seewald has brought his art to sell in La Jolla because, he said, “A higher amount of tourists come through here – more traffic.”
Seewald’s been in his latest retail space for a few months, having previously relocated from Prospect Street. He added his studio is like a co-op in how it operates.
“There’s no board of directors, it’s not a nonprofit like co-ops are,” he said. “I have people who wanted to display their art, so they can rent a space and show here. I get a lot of artists who never had gallery space before. I give them a chance to sell their art.”
Seewald also does traveling three-day photography workshops, having just returned from one in Yosemite. The photographer said he’s “fussy” about his photos. “In Katmandu, I stopped three times in a week and made three photos, and only one made it into my exhibit,” he said adding, “It now hangs over my bed at my house. I don’t make a lot of photos. I’m very picky. And I teach that pickiness to my students.”
Added Seewald, “One of my students, a Marine, is now selling his work here. He was buying my art 30 years ago. I inspired him to pick up a camera and become a photographer. He’s had my class twice. Now he’s selling his own art.”
Seewald sells retail at the gallery and at seewald.com. “A lot of people go to my website and just spend hours,” he added.
Especially lately, Seewald has been big on doing abstract paintings. “They sell really well,” he pointed out, showing off his paintings stacked up in his studio. “Some are from photos I’ve done, and some are just invented.”
By his own admission, Seewald is not bad at bass fishing either, a skill he picked up from YouTube and reading articles. That’s an art, too, he claims.
“It’s a challenge too because you’ve got to fake that little fish out,” Seewald said. “Most people think fishing is a bobber with a little worm at the bottom. No, it’s me in the front of the boat controlling the motor going along the bank trying to throw the right lure to trick that bass into biting. Two years ago in Chula Vista I caught an 11 1/2-pound bass. Last week, I took a friend out fishing. I caught 10 fish and he caught one. Same lure.”
Asked if he’s satisfied with his career, Seewald was short and to the point in answering. “I do what I love,” he concluded.
MICHAEL SEEWALD GALLERIES
Where: 7863 Girard Street, Suite 106 (La Plaza).
Contact: 760-633-1351, seewald.com.
