ABOUT MIKA

I’m an artist and UX designer living in Portland, ME. Follow me on Instagram @mikasatoart 

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I use watercolor and acrylic paints to explore both representational and abstract worlds. Watercolor fascinates me with its battle between control and submission, drawing me to paint animals and flowers as I navigate the balance between tight and loose styles, ultimately letting the paint guide the creation.

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Acrylics let me tap into the more chaotic side of my mind. Sometimes I calm it by painting water and flowers, but more often I write the lyrics of songs over and over again, then smear paint by hand on top, and repeat. Some were just old favorites or songs that got stuck in my head for months, but most of them are songs I listened to growing up that reflect frustrations with the political and social constructs of life - frustrations that are infuriatingly still relevant today, decades later. 

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Ultimately, my paintings are a journey through the tension between chaos and control, sifting through reflections on daily life.