Written by: Candace T. Botha   (Sarasota Pet Magazine)

Michael Vistia is an internationally known dog artist with numerous accomplishments throughout his lifelong career. To name a few, his paintings are featured yearly on TV by the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, National Geographic, and Fox Sports. His work can be collected throughout 78 art galleries in the US, beginning with 4 galleries in Maui Hawaii to every major destination city in America. His painted dog collection holds numerous licensing agreements which span 9 countries and adorn an array of products there in. He is grateful to have a long list of happy clients that include Celebrities, Pro Athletes, Fortune 500 companies and many of the most prestigious people in the world. But, beyond the fancy credits, Michael's focus is more about the love shared between all people and their closest furry companions.

 Michael recalls the inspiration behind painting dogs, "as a boy of 9 years old, my first experience with these wonderful animals was with our first dog Sammy, a West Highland Terrier, who showed me that between two beings it only takes one to make a relationship work." "I noticed that no matter my own mood, Sammys only response in return was to show love." "This was tremendously impressive, and eventually led to my own evolution inward, thinking that if we could all achieve what dogs are expressing so naturally as unconditional love, what a beautiful world it would be!" "Sometimes our teachers are not who we expect them to be." "From that point on, my heart was open and decided to paint my first canvas of Sammy. This led to creating a life of celebrating our deep connection with dogs through my work as a painter."
 

 Now, imagine standing before a blank canvas with a paint brush in your hand. You have never taken an art lesson, nor have you had any formal education to learn either the skills needed to mix and blend paints or the strokes that are essential in bringing an image to life. And yet, somehow, standing before that canvas, an innate talent begins to unfold, and the brush expertly glides across the surface as you masterfully create works of art that are admired by many and appreciated by all. And so it is for Michael Vistia, an accomplished, Mid-Western born artist, who is the "founder and creator" of this colorful and refreshing style of Painting. When viewing a painting from his ever-evolving collection of art, it is, quite simply, unforgettable. Rich, vibratory colors, bold with fluid black lines, playful in composition and dramatic in interpretation. It is not surprising to see why devotees around the globe have declared that the pieces painted by Michael Vistia have the power to “raise the vibration of any room.” For Michael, his seemingly instinctive skills are anything but. As an ardent believer in “gifts” brought with us from past lives, he is certain that his talent has evolved through many past lifetimes. In this life, however, the talent he has groomed through decades of self-instruction has an added and unmistakable dimension. “What we call talent,” he says, “is simple at it's core". "It’s all about loving what you do and cultivating that love.” For this grounded man who always has been an entrepreneur, who has built a successful and contented life by immersing himself in his art, love is the depth of every word spoken and every action taken. “For me", paintings are a bridge to share magical moments with others,” Michael says. “I love interacting with people, and painting has always enabled me to connect and communicate in a way that words alone do not achieve, expressions deep from the heart.” In fact, there isn’t a time in his life that Michael cannot remember using art as a means of communication. “As a young boy, my very first interest was painting,” he remembers. “I started to communicate through drawing more so than speaking." "When people see my art, I want them to smile, to feel good and become inspired to create beauty in their own lives, through following one's own excitement anything is possible. "It's not about fame," Michael continues. " It's simply about sharing joyful moments with others!"