Mikey Jay — High-Pitched Productions

Lana Del Rey: Singer-Songwriter of the 2010s, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 1. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Inspired by the Grammys’ suggestion that women need to make better music, Mikey created his "Women in Music" collection to celebrate the women who’ve shaped the industry with their artistry, songwriting, and influence. First up? His favorite singer-songwriter of the 2010s, Lana Del Rey. Because apparently, women can dominate an entire decade of music and still need a committee of men to tell them they’re doing it wrong. Summertime sadness, indeed. (Mikey's favorite Lana song: Black Beauty)

SZA: R&B Artist of the 2010s, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 2. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Piece #2 of Mikey’s Women in Music collection goes to SZA, the R&B queen who made overthinking, questionable romantic decisions, and checking your ex’s social media sound like award-winning art. If women need to make better music, perhaps the men handing out Grammys should start listening. Ctrl, Alt, Del the misogyny. (Mikey's favorite SZA song: Normal Girl)

Cardi B: Rapper of the 2010s, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 3. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Piece #3 goes to the Bronx-born queen who made history as the first woman to win Best Rap Album at the Grammys with her debut album, "Invasion of Privacy". It invaded the record books, and the Recording Academy’s boys’ club hasn’t been the same since. Turns out, the only thing Cardi likes more than money is making history. Okurrr! (Mikey's favorite Cardi song: Moneybag)

Amy Winehouse: Singer-Songwriter of the 2000s, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 4. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Piece #4 celebrates Amy Winehouse, the woman who gave heartbreak a jazz beat, bad decisions a soundtrack, and the music industry a voice it couldn’t replicate if it tried. With a voice like old-school soul and lyrics that laid her demons bare, Amy proved that making better music was never the problem. Maybe the Grammys should’ve tried listening instead of lecturing. They tried to make her go to rehab… and somehow, she still won five Grammys in one night. (Mikey's favorite Amy song: Back to Black)

Destiny's Child: R&B Group of the 2000s, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 5. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

WIM #05: Destiny’s Child — R&B Group of the 2000sBefore Beyoncé became Beyoncé, there was Destiny’s Child—and if you were listening to R&B in the 2000s, you couldn’t escape them if you tried. With powerhouse vocals, coordinated outfits, and enough attitude to make every cheating man reconsider his life choices, Destiny’s Child dominated the decade. Mikey chose the group because celebrating Beyoncé alone would mean ignoring the women who helped build the empire before she went solo. Besides, Independent Women hit differently when you remembered there were three of them. (Mikey's favorite Destiny's Child song: Bug A Boo)

Missy Elliott, 2018

"Women in Music", No. 6. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

WIM #06: Missy Elliott — Hip-Hop’s Queen of InnovationBefore Mikey was making art inspired by his muses, he was learning choreography from Missy Elliott music videos, blasting “Gossip Folks" on his walkman, and rocking the tracksuits to prove he was a SupaFriend. Missy was a fixture of his early-to-mid-2000s life, blending music, fashion, and visuals into something that he resonated with. Years later, Mikey posted this piece of the icon, and Missy herself shared it on Instagram, giving his artwork recognition he could only have dreamed of back when he was practicing dance routines in his tracksuit. (Mikey's favorite Missy song: Gossip Folks)

Mariah Carey: Singer-Songwriter of the 1990s., 2018

"Women in Music", No. 7. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Mikey was born a Lamb, literally. Mariah's "Dreamlover" was the #1 song when he entered the world in 1993. He's been listening to the voice of an angel ever since. Still to this day he believes she's the greatest singer of all time and greatest songwriter of all time. (Mikey's favorite Mariah song: Forever)

TLC: R&B Group of the 1990s, 2019

"Women in Music", No. 8. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Mikey’s connection to TLC started before he could even talk. As a baby with colic, he screamed relentlessly until his mother discovered that playing TLC could quiet him down. Apparently, he was born with excellent taste and a very specific set of demands. He’s been a devoted fan ever since, with CrazySexyCool holding the title of his all-time favorite album. TLC wasn’t just music playing in the background of his childhood; it was part of his life from the very beginning. Some kids grew up with nursery rhymes, but Mikey grew up with CrazySexyCool. This would be Mikey's most viral piece due to the original Creep Music Video pajamas. It's what got him noticed by the Grammy's Museum. (Mikey's favorite TLC song: Baby-Baby-Baby)

Lil' Kim: Rapper of the 1990s, 2019

"Women in Music", No. 9. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Mikey’s love for Lil’ Kim began as an act of musical rebellion. Rap was forbidden in his father’s house, so naturally, Mikey found a way to get his fix at FYE, listening to her tracks on the store’s display Walkmans like a tiny criminal serving time in the CD aisle. He fell in love with her flow, her beats, and her unapologetic attitude. "Hard Core" remains, in his opinion, one of the greatest rap albums ever made. Officer Goodwin may have banned rap, but he couldn’t ban the bars from Mikey’s brain. Some kids snuck candy. Mikey snuck Biggie’s protégé. This would be the final published piece in Mikey's "Women In Music" collection due to burnout. (Mikey's favorite Kimmy song: Queen Bitch)

Cyndi Lauper: Singer-Songwriter of the 1980s: UNPUBLISHED, Abandoned in 2019

"Women in Music", No. 10. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Cyndi Lauper was next on Mikey’s list to celebrate the women who shaped music, but burnout had other plans. The artwork never made it to the finish line, proving that even a collection dedicated to iconic women couldn’t escape the ultimate diva: creative exhaustion. (Mikey's favorite Cyndi song: Money Changes Everything)

Janet Jackson: R&B Artist of the 1980s, Abandoned in 2019

"Women in Music", No. 11. Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

WIM: Unfinished — Janet Jackson, The Most Talented JacksonMikey’s deep love for Janet Jackson made her portrait his last-ditch attempt to break through his creative block. Unfortunately, even the Queen of Rhythm couldn’t bring him back from the brink of artistic burnout. Mikey will die on the hill that Janet is the most talented Jackson—and that she never received her proper flowers because she was a woman. The portrait may be unfinished, but his argument isn’t! (Mikey's favorite Janet song is a tie: Escapade/Love Will Never Do Without You)

Pfeiffer's Catwoman, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad. Limited edition of five canvas prints.

Commissioned by Warner Bros. to create artwork celebrating Batman Returns, Mikey chose Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman for a limited edition of just five prints, later exhibited at Gallery 1988 in Hollywood, CA. While Gotham was busy obsessing over Batman and the Penguin, Mikey believed the film’s true scene-stealer was slinking around in a stitched-up catsuit. Pfeiffer didn’t just play Selina Kyle; she made her the beating heart of the film, balancing vulnerability, rage, and deliciously unhinged charisma. In Mikey’s eyes, an Oscar nomination wasn’t enough. She deserved the gold.

The Addams Family, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate for iPad.

Commissioned by Universal Pictures to create artwork celebrating the 2019 animated film The Addams Family. A chance to bring Mikey’s artistic style to one of pop culture’s most delightfully macabre families.

The Wizard of Oz: Over the Rainbow, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad. Limited edition of five canvas prints.

Commissioned by Warner Bros. to create artwork celebrating the timeless classic The Wizard of Oz. Mikey chose to do a technicolor rainbow theme since this was the movie that made color happen.

Spider-Man: Far From Home, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Commissioned by Disney to create artwork celebrating Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019), bringing Mikey’s artistic style to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A full circle moment for someone that auditioned for the title role.

It: Chapter Two, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Commissioned by Warner Bros. to create a postcard design for IT (2017), this piece would go on to be distributed as merchandise, earning the studio a profit while Mikey walked away with barely enough to make a dent on the debt for the iPad he designed it on. Apparently, the real horror story wasn't lurking in the sewers of Derry—it was the contract. Pennywise had better compensation practices.

Power Rangers: UNPUBLISHED, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate for iPad.

Mikey began designing a piece for the Power Rangers, but when the payments fell through, so did the project. Even superheroes have their limits, and Mikey wasn’t about to morph into a freelance artist working for free.

Joker, 2019

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

Commissioned by Warner Bros. to create artwork celebrating Joker (2019), Mikey took a comic-book-inspired approach to the film’s dark descent into madness. Rather than simply recreating a movie poster, he leaned into the graphic, stylized aesthetic of the comics, giving Gotham’s most infamous villain a look worthy of the page—and the big screen.

Riot House!, 2020

Acrylic paint on wall.

Hired to create a mural for the Andaz West Hollywood on Sunset Boulevard, formerly the Hyatt House, a hotel steeped in the rock ’n’ roll history of the 1970s. Mikey painted Elton John, who stayed there during his first visit to America; Little Richard, who called the hotel home; and Kate Hudson, whose film Almost Famous featured the property. Three icons, one wall, and a whole lot of rock ’n’ roll history.

Riot House!: Elton John, 2020

Acrylic paint on wall.

Mikey painted Elton John, who stayed there during his first visit to America.

Riot House!: Little Richard, 2020

Acrylic paint on wall.

Mikey painted Little Richard, who called the hotel home.

Riot House!: Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), 2020

Acrylic paint on wall.

Mikey painted Kate Hudson, whose film Almost Famous featured the property.

Halloween, 2020

Digitally designed with Procreate on iPad.

A tribute to Halloween and the woman who helped define an entire horror genre. Mikey put Jamie Lee Curtis front and center as Laurie Strode, the ultimate final girl whose legacy earned her the title of Hollywood’s original scream queen. Michael Myers may have been the face of the franchise, but Laurie was the reason audiences kept screaming. It would be his FINAL piece of art purchased by Hollywood before the kickstart of AI.

Hopped Off the Plane at LAX, 2014

A year and a half after graduating, Mikey moved to Los Angeles in January 2014 with big dreams, questionable finances, and the confidence of someone who genuinely believed he’d make it in the business. And, inconveniently for the punchline, he actually got on television that same month, appearing on MTV’s Awkward, followed by Parks and Recreation and The Goldbergs, to name a few. Turns out, the delusion had a résumé. Hollywood was calling—collect, naturally.

Big Fat Truther, 2014

Mikey landed a job at Universal Studios Hollywood working on the Jurassic Park ride, allegedly for the paycheck. In reality, he wanted to feel closer to Laura Dern and to gain access to the backlot, where he lived like Frankie Muniz and Amanda Bynes in Big Fat Liar, casually strolling past actual movie sets and around Hollywood's most famous sets like he belonged there. Confidentially, of course.

Act 1 Wrap. Act 2 Action., 2015

Mikey moved back home to Jamestown after becoming homeless in December 2014. He was sleeping in Bates Motel, yes, the literal set. Only to return to Universal in May 2015, by fully committing to the Hollywood experience, living in his Prius in Universal Studios’ parking garage. Was it stupid? Absolutely. But between auditions, chasing the dream, and paying tribute to Lucille Ball, he was determined to make it in the business. Some aspiring actors rent studio apartments. Mikey had a studio on wheels—and at least his commute was phenomenal.

Bend & Snap Remix, 2015

Working at Universal meant dealing with celebrities daily. Mikey teaches the rangers how he'd act if Theo James ever showed up: The Bend & Snap with a seductive biting of a nail twist! Truly educational!!! (This move did get James Franco to wink at him--proof it works!)

Catwoman and Chinman, 2016

Mikey pays tribute to his favorite Catwoman, Michelle Pfeiffer, at her Hollywood Walk of Fame star. Unfortunately, while she brought the claws, Mikey brought the chin.

End of Act 2, 2016

After 16 grueling months of sleeping in the driver’s seat of his Prius, Mikey finally admitted that the Hollywood dream was taking a rather literal toll on his body. The auditions were exciting, the experiences unforgettable, but chronic back pain and the inability to sleep horizontally will eventually humble even the most ambitious aspiring star. So, he packed up and returned to Jamestown. It wasn’t the ending he’d imagined, but sometimes even the biggest dreamers need a bed, a shower, and eight consecutive hours of unconsciousness. Hollywood would have to wait.

Act 3, 2018

Mikey returned to Los Angeles in April 2017, convinced that the third time would be the charm. Unfortunately, his existential crisis had other plans. He disappeared from social media for over a year to work on himself, only to return in 2018 after acting coaches reminded him that Hollywood had apparently entered its influencer era. Talent was great, but how many followers did it have? Shakespeare had his sonnets. Brando had his method. Mikey needed a fucking content strategy.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, PLEASE, 2018

Mikey has worked with major studios, had his artwork commissioned by Hollywood, and crossed paths with more celebrities than his childhood self could have ever imagined. Yet somehow, a sighting of Sarah Michelle Gellar remains elusive. Perhaps it’s for the best. One glimpse of Sarah and Mikey would either suffer a fatal cardiac event or caterwaul her name with the unholy desperation of a Victorian widow spotting her deceased husband’s ghost. Some dreams are better left unrealized—for Sarah’s sake.

Baby's First Headshots, 2018

Headshots, Finally — The Starving Artist Gets a Close-UpBetween creating art and working a full-time, third-shift job, Mikey somehow continued chasing his acting dreams. And in a major Hollywood milestone, he finally had enough money to afford professional headshots! Because apparently, convincing casting directors you can act is much easier when you have a photograph that proves you exist. Sleep was optional, sanity was negotiable, but a headshot? That was an investment in the dream.

A Reel One, 2019

Mikey finally scraped together enough money to hire a demo reel director, because in Hollywood, apparently, being an actor is the one job where you have to pay thousands of dollars to convince someone to hire you. That's showbiz, baby!

A Serial Killer, 2019

Here’s Mikey as a serial killer. In reality, the only things he was killing were his bank account and his mental health.

A Working Actor, 2019

Acting Class — Studying for the Role of a LifetimeMikey in acting class, going over his script and preparing to deliver the performance of a lifetime. Somewhere in Hollywood, a casting director was looking for the next big star. Somewhere else, Mikey was memorizing lines, paying tuition, and slowly realizing that becoming an actor required the preparation of a brain surgeon and the financial compensation of a volunteer.

CUH-RONA-VUYYYYYYY-RUS, 2020

Mikey in San Francisco in March 2020, celebrating the fact he just signed a lease on a rent controlled apartment in Beverly Hills for only a quarter of what his neighbors paid. A steal! However, San Fran was shutting down due to a cruise ship he witnessed circling the Bay Area amid a coronavirus outbreak. He’d finally found an affordable home, and the universe was already plotting its cancellation.

Baby's First Article, 2020

Amid a global pandemic, Mikey managed to be featured in Voyage LA where he was able to finally get some publicity as a working actor!

That's A Wrap on Hollywood, 2020

In December 2020, Mikey was indefinitely let go from his full-time job, just as Hollywood was embracing AI-generated art and mistaking Instagram followers for talent. After years of paying for the privilege of auditioning, creating, and proving himself, he’d finally had enough of an industry where a computer could replace an artist and an influencer could replace an actor. Mikey packed up and returned to Jamestown. Hollywood had officially become a place where you could have all the talent in the world and still lose the job to a robot or someone with a ring light.