Hello, I'm CorteseArt.

My name is Michael S. Cortese Jr. but mostly everyone just calls me by my last name so CorteseArt was the easiest name for my brand. I am a self taught artist with interests in color exploration​,​ patterns​,​ mark making and abstract designs. ​ I have enjoyed making art ever since I was a little kid. I loved picking up a pencil and just drawing whatever I saw or wanted to draw​,​ the freedom was at my fingertips. My art teacher in elementary school spoke with my mother and me one day and asked if I'd be interested in joining an afterschool art program where we would explore all kinds of art and how to make art and it's been embedded in me ever since. ​ In high school​,​ my focus was more on architecture and drafting before getting into engineering graphics. I will never forget my AUTO CAD days. I studied engineering at Virginia Tech before realizing it was not my style and turned to the business world. I use my analytical skills to help meet business needs and solve problems. I tap into those same principles when putting a new color or mark on the canvas and reacting to it​,​ changing it​,​ shaping it​,​ layer over layer until I have the finished product. ​ Music has also played an important part in my life and who doesn't love putting on some good music and just letting go of your day. I hope my artwork brings you that same joy and happiness in your day every time you see it as it did when I was creating them.