Lynyrd Skynyrd Michael Cartellone Paints His Artistic Rhythm (Interview)

Michael Cartellone of Lynyrd Skynyrd fame has more than drums to play.
Cartellone has recently revealed his amazing ability to make music
with paint on the canvas as well. Painting at the age of four, Michael’s
skills were recognized by his Kindergarten teacher. Taking notice of the
very young savant, the teacher advised Cartellone’s parents to inspire
him to expand his talent. Joseph and Grace Cartellone soon enrolled
their artistic son at the Cleveland Institute of Art.

Artist Meets Music

At nine year’s old the talented painter also discovered his love of
drumming. As quick as he took to the canvas, Michael took off with his
musical ability as well. The future Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer had his first
professional engagement at only 11-years old playing in his first bar
gig. As others took notice of his drumming talent, the artist’s painting
was left in the studio. Michael played the live music scene in Cleveland
with several bands. He took to the world-renowned Cleveland Agora
Ballroom stage with The Notion, Boy Wonder, Jewel of the Deep and
Moonlight Drive.

To build his career dreams in music and as a fine artist, Michael
Cartellone moved to New
York City when he was 22. The gifted artist utilized his talent as a
painter to support himself while he pursued work in the music world. A
true inspiration, Michael forged his own way discovering ways to create
opportunities to showcase his music abilities. He found himself playing
with former Roxy Music and U.K. keyboardist Eddie Jobson and then
joining the Solo band of Styx guitarist, Tommy Shaw.

After two years of playing with Shaw, Michael and Tommy became members
of the multi-platinum band, Damn Yankees. From this point, Cartellone’s
drumming career took flight recording and touring with famed artists. He
drummed his way to stardom working with John Fogerty, Peter Frampton,
John Wetton, Freddie Mercury, Cher, Adrian Belew, and the legendary
Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Meet Michael Cartellone

Still drumming his love of music into admirer’s hearts, Michael’s
artistic talents as a painter have now been uncovered as well. His works
are clearly inspired by the masters of just about every fine art
category from Michelangelo and Van Gogh to Picasso and Warhol, allowing
for unique paintings that talk specifically to each viewer. Speaking
with Michael Cartellone it feels like one is in the room with a dear
friend. It is evident that this man is as much talented as he is modest
about his abilities.

Carol Ruth Weber: What was the first art you remember creating way
back when you were four?

Michael Cartellone: The kindergarten teacher had seen something in
what I was doodling and told my parents so they enrolled me in the
Cleveland Institute of Art in their summer program. Being very young
many of the principals of formal art training went over my head but I
still was able to pick up knowledge. My first painting was of the
Planters Peanut Guy. I found it in my parent’s attic and I still have
it. I studied all through grade school and high school and still to this
day I remember everything I learned and use it.

CRW: How did it feel heading to art school when you were so young?

MC: I was very excited because it was never something regarding
drawing and painting that I never needed to be nudged to do. Much like
my drums, my parents never had to remind me to do a lesson.

CRW: How did you discover drumming in the midst of creating with
paints?

MC: I have an older cousin named Bert who is a drummer and I would
beg him to let me use his drum set. My parents noticed how fixated I was
so signed me up with Bert’s drum teacher. I am indebted to my older
cousin for being so patient. I am eternally grateful to my parents and
my family for being so supportive of the arts.

CRW: What inspired you to move to New York City and not the west
coast?

MC: When I was still living in Cleveland playing in the bar scene I
began corresponding with a well-established British musician named Eddie
Jobson. I was a big fan of his. I moved to New York when I was 22 to
work with Eddie on a recording project. That recording project was not a
paid position so I got a job working in the garment center in a
children’s company hand painting designs.

CRW: Did you find yourself disappointed that drumming overtook your
talent as a painter?

MC: No because once I started drumming at age 9 that did move to the
forefront. I never stopped painting and did sell work even as a
teenager. I am happy that the drumming took to the forefront because it
helped forge my music career and now my music career is helping me
become known as an artist.

CRW: Your works are so varied from abstract to realism, it is clear
that you have been influenced by many artists. What famous artists have
intrigued you the most and why?

MC: Michelangelo which is apparent with the four Davids that I
painted. Both his sculpture, but his paintings are very important to me.
Not only for my family background but how much I appreciated his ability
and the way his work has inspired artists for generations. Among other
masters that have inspired me are Van Gough, Caravaggio, and Magritte.

CRW: What was your inspiration behind your four paintings of
“David”? Are you going to be upset if they are not sold as a group?

MC: I had the idea that it would be interesting to paint him
representing four eras of art so I simply did some research of different
artists during different periods of art. I dwindled them down to four
artists that would complement each other spanning the period from 1889
to 1984. Ideally, I would like them to live together because of the theme
and the history together but I do feel that each does stand on its own.

A wonderful six-minute documentary showcases
Michael explaining his “The Four Davids”
in detail.

CRW: What is your favorite medium to work with and what inspires you
to create in one master style versus another?

MC: My favorite medium out of necessity is acrylic because it dries
very quickly and I can paint as I travel with Lynyrd Skynyrd. I never
really know what I will paint next. I get inspired by photos that I take
and store away. I discover what I am going to paint next when a photo
triggers an idea. As I travel with the band I make sure to visit local
museums and take photos.

CRW: What is next for you?

MC: A showing in my home town of Cleveland, Ohio. I have waited to
have a show in Cleveland until the timing was right so now we are
planning a gallery event this summer.

CRW: Do you have dreams of mixing your painting talents with your
drumming talents and if so in what way?

MC: I actually already did just that about 10-years ago. I did a
group of paintings of life on the road with the band in a color series.
Every one of them was painted in various hotel rooms while I was on
tour. When I kicked off my art work in a very public way I began by
showing my Road series. Each painting is named for its color. I call
them pop realism because they are bright and colorful yet with sharp
detail.

Each of Michaels works takes on a unique personality. While some are
clearly influenced by a master others have been inspired by Michael
Cartellone’s own brilliance transferred onto the canvas in the form of
still life, portraits, and scenery. Wentworth Gallery took notice of
Cartellone as a fine artist staging gallery showings in major U.S.
cities. Michael’s paintings have been touring the country showcasing in
metro locations including New York City, Phoenix, Washington D.C., Las
Vegas, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Orlando, and Florida’s Los
Olas and Boca Raton. As the beat goes on, the drummer’s canvases are
sparking continuous ovations by new fans in the world of fine arts.