九色视频

Eline has devoted his life to not only his paintings, but to bringing joy to people through live art events throughout the Eastern Shore. During these events, he encourages people to engage with art and watch the creation of portraits in real time.

鈥淵ou can feed off the energy I do like getting up in front of people,鈥� Eline said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been a public speaker on-and-off at different times. I鈥檝e been a chamber president. I鈥檝e run a nonprofit service organization. I鈥檓 comfortable in my skin, and I think that people feed off your vibe too, so that if you鈥檙e real positive, they鈥檙e real positive, and everybody has a good time.鈥�

Eline said he had always had a love for art and even studied it at Salisbury University, but after some time as a 鈥渟tarving artist,鈥� he decided to leave art behind in order to pursue a job in construction.

For over 28 years, Eline took a hiatus from painting. Then during the Great Recession in 2014, he had to close his construction business. But soon after, he rediscovered his passion for painting and has been chasing it ever since.

Now, Eline does live painting events throughout the Eastern Shore and more recently has added a musical component to his shows through his friend Joe Hickey who plays the guitar and sings while Eline paints.

During their performances, Hickey will joke around with Eline and Eline in turn will dance to the music Hickey plays.

Hickey says he loves performing with Eline and appreciates the duo that they have become in and outside of their performances.

鈥�(Mike) would be there in a heartbeat if I needed him,鈥� Hickey said. 鈥淎nd I鈥檓 the same way.鈥�

Eline makes a point of connecting with those who watch him make art.

Throughout an event, Eline will go and talk to attendees, hand them paint brushes to join him in making art and ask questions.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a relationship that forms between the artist and the viewer,鈥� Eline said. 鈥淎nd you can go so much further if you鈥檙e there with the audience at the time you鈥檙e doing it, there鈥檚 this much greater connection.鈥�

Joy McPeters, a St. Michaels resident, was at the event at Blu Miles Restaurant on Sunday, cheering and clapping for the Eline. McPeters says she owns a painting of Eline鈥檚 and it is displayed proudly in her home.

鈥淚鈥檓 a fan of Mike鈥檚 and a fan of Joe鈥檚, and I think (Eline鈥檚) work is fantastic,鈥� McPeters said. 鈥淲e have one painting of his at home. So we鈥檙e here to support and so we can get some food for lunch 鈥� And it鈥檚 amazing that he can paint that quickly.鈥�

Alek Riedel, bar manager at Blue Miles Restaurant, said it was Eline鈥檚 second time performing at the restaurant.

鈥淗e does a great job,鈥� Riedel said. 鈥淗e does a lot of paintings, and it鈥檚 just something fun to do to bring the local community in 鈥� things like this are always good for trying to bring all the local community together to help small businesses or even big businesses.鈥�

According to Eline, every time he paints he feels he is getting closer to a universal truth about the world, and though he puts a lot of effort and love in his art, he is happy when other people enjoy it enough to take it home with them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like children, you kind of let them go and I tell people that it鈥檚 like this painting got adopted. It鈥檚 going to its forever home,鈥� Eline said. 鈥淭he fact that someone can relate to it or enjoy it at that level, it鈥檚 kind of nice that it goes away. I feel like I learned something new in each painting, too. I am getting closer to the truth of my subject matter, that it becomes more and more evident as I do my next painting, my next painting, my next painting, it鈥檚 very existential.鈥�