Twenty-five-year-old Michael Kellman is now getting a foot into the doorway, but he is bursting with confidence and is very serious when he says one day he would not only own his own company to market his products but would also have a school to teach young people “the world of arts.”
With his recent success in Sonia Noel’s designer portfolio–he gained third place in that competition–Michael is focusing all of his energies on preparation for the upcoming Guyana Fashion Weekend as he knows that to have models displaying his designs on such an important stage is not an opportunity that should be missed.
In a recent chat with The Scene the Campbellville resident revealed that arts are “in my genes” adding that there was no other path he could have taken as not only are his mother and father into arts, but a now-dead great aunt was also good at the fine arts.
“Art is in my genes, there was nothing else for me,” Michael told The Scene.
In 2005 he graduated from the Burrowes School of Arts with a major in ceramics and a minor in graphic design but Michael said long before that graduation he knew what he wanted. From his small days of travelling to Brebice and assisting his grandmother in building mud firesides and always wanting to look different in what he wore, Michael knew what he wanted.
Michael is not just keen on one aspect of arts, he is into designing clothing, ceramics, painting, designing posters and interior designing and he does not see being master of all too tall a task for him. He describes himself as a “pushy person” who would not bat an eyelid at having to stand at the street corner to hawk his creations because as he sees it one must start somewhere to get anywhere. Never one to miss an opportunity he recalled that he shared a booth at last year’s Guyexpo where he displayed ceramic pieces and also launched his fashion career. But it was the designer portfolio that really launched him, Michael said, disclosing that the experience was a “very good one” and not one he would trade. While he was forced to work under pressure, Michael does not regret as according to him he found that more ideas popped into his head and he loved the competition provided by the other designers.
It was at the competition that he launched his brand, Helicona, a name he admits is not an everyday word, but it has something to do with harmony. He recalled being captivated with a flower that had the appearance of touching the soul. The flower, he said, had a long stem and petals that were directly opposite each other which appeared to have harmonized.
But it is not the flower that is behind the brand as Michael recalled that he was always “jealous” of the fact that persons were proud to wear clothing with American brands and wanted to come up with something of his own. He said his designs are more of a “casual type” and he is targeting the youths with tops and jeans making up most of it.
Looking to the future, Michael said he hopes to have his clothing on sale in ever boutique in Guyana and the first pieces would be the ones he designed for the Guyana Fashion Weekend.
But how is going to get the designs into the boutiques?
Michael said he has no qualms about approaching the boutiques and requesting that his designs be put on displaying as according to him they are of such a quality, it would be hard to refuse the request.
On other fronts Michael said he recently participated in the United Artist Association at the Venezuelan Embassy where he had leather creations and painting on display. He is now in preparation to enter the National Gallery drawing competition.
Not one to sit around, Michael also revealed that next year he hopes to host his own art exhibition and fashion show and it was at this point he spoke to about opening his own company in years to come followed by a school.
Michael has never done anything else and according to him he has been making it since he never one to sit around and is always looking for the opportunities.
“Art is my life. I don’t see myself doing anything else. I just like creating stuff,” the artist told The Scene.
He boasts that he strives to be creative and unique and is always mixing his designs with a “little of the old and a little of the new” to keep them interesting. He revealed that persons would order outfits and adding that “I would even stand on the streets and sell.”
He says if young persons want to enter the world of art they should expect hurdles but should always stay focused; know what they want and go for it.
“I am confident that one day I would make it big,” he said. [email protected]