Marc Anthony once said, “Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” Michael Kreiser is the living embodiment of that statement. An acclaimed digital artist from the beautiful town of Greenville, SC, Kreiser found his passion for art at an early age, but it wasn’t until 2017 that he decided to make a career out of it. His story is one of resilience and dedication, ultimately leading him to find success uniquely.
Kreiser started his career with oil painting commissions for the first five years of his art business. He quickly transitioned to digital art to make printables, starting with designs inspired by sports and natural landscapes before creating his first comic book cover for Kendrick Lamar’s single, DNA. After posting his work on Reddit and receiving such a wild response, he realized that fusing pop culture with digital art was his true calling. “I was someone who was gifted but never practiced. Now that I make art every day, I’m making stuff I never dreamed was possible,” shared Kreiser.
The road to Kreiser’s success was challenging. Before launching his creative career, he was saddled with a mountain of debt. Previously, he had to rely on his income from his job at Olive Garden to keep his family afloat. Although he had to miss out on three months of pay due to the COVID pandemic, he chose to devote that time to honing his skills instead of giving up.
After COVID, he returned to his old job until a painful diagnosis of necrosis forced him to have a hip replacement. With a lot of debt and a family to provide for, this was a hard time for Kreiser, but his determination kept him going. He decided to utilize social media to his advantage and, despite his deteriorating health, continued to create and sell artwork – giving a new boost to his art business.
Recently, Kreiser and his wife Carly, who shares his passion for art, were featured on the popular HGTV show “House Hunters,” documenting their journey to finding a larger home in Greenville. The episode “Searching for Inspiration in South Carolina” highlighted Kreiser’s journey from being in heavy debt to being able to afford his dream home with the help of his successful artwork.
Kreiser’s webshop, Fine Art with MK, continues to be a creative outlet, allowing him to bring his passions and dreams to life. As Kreiser continues his journey of success, it’s apparent that he has found something he loves doing, ensuring that he will never have to work a day. His life serves as an example to those on a journey of self-discovery, demonstrating that one can achieve any goal with focus and effort. This dreamer is now living his passion and creating art daily—a testament to the power of chasing your dreams.
Follow him on Instagram or visit his website to witness his incredible artwork.
