Mike Howard is one of those guys who has a story about practically anything.

He can talk about the happenings in the 1950s in Phenix City, he can talk about art and movies, he can talk about baseball.

Howard has been a house painter, which he said helped him with the huge paintings he’s doing now. He did window displays for big department stores in New York City.

He also drops names but it’s just like he’s talking about a neighbor. So his conversations are sprinkled with names from the art world like Julian Schabel and Basquiat. People he knows.

He did set design work for the late Richard Avedon, which led him to start a studio to build sets.

When he realized he was making $20,000 a year, he let his wife, Mary take over the business. She has turned it into a multi-million dollar business. Now he jokes that he’s a kept man.

Howard says his wife, Mary, a successful art and set designer, is worse about name-dropping.

“She works a lot with (photographer) Annie Leibowitz, so she’s done the sets for Madonna. She went to Africa with Bono and to Cambodia with Angelina Jolie.”

He said one day, she came home talking about Brad and Angie and he wracked his brain, trying to figure out who they were. Then he had the ah-ha moment, when he said, “Oh, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.”

Howard said his wife just gave him that look.

We spoke to Howard about his life as an artist last week.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Have you always painted?

I started with personal lessons with (local artist) Toni Mani.

How old were you when you decided to do art full-time?

I was always showing and selling. I was a teacher, painter or decorator. When Mimi was born, I stayed at home with her.

You spent time in the Marines. Were you painting then?

I was a machine gunner. So, no.

You’ve done some wacky things to get your art noticed. Tell us about the 100 for $100 project.

It was a sweepstakes. I did 100 paintings that were exactly the same. I sold 100 paintings in a week. The grand prize was a trip to Paris. So of the $10,000 we made, we spent $8,000 in prizes. It’s those money-making skills of mine. Al Hansen (a noted artist) bought one because he was looking for a trip to Paris.

And you’ve had your work in a strip bar to soak up the atmosphere?

In the Baby Doll Lounge in Tribeca (a neighborhood in Manhattan). Men like sitting in dark bars. These were all hunting scenes.

Your wife is a successful art director. I know she’s chosen some of your work as “background scenery.”

She’s a fashion set designer. She’s the best. She works with (fashion and portrait photographers) Steven Klein, Steven Meisel and Annie (Liebowitz). They all trust her. The last one was a really pretty flower painting.

You and your wife are artistic. Does your daughter show any inclination in that area?

No. She could care less. She’s a writer.

You choose very large canvases for your work. Is it difficult to paint in such a large scale?

You know what happened? I painted houses and was used to getting up in a ladder. It seems that art students carry their art in portfolios for convenience. I think that would be the best thing for college students (to paint monumental work).

This exhibit is your first solo show in Columbus. How do you feel about it?

This is it. I didn’t do anything about networking. Now, it’s about working. Since Mimi is in college, I have plenty of time. I just stayed at home and painted and stacked up 700 paintings. I have a show in Atlanta that opens on Oct. 14. I have a show in Pennsylvania.

You call the exhibit, “Crossing the Bridge: Paintings of Life and Death.” Can you explain that?

That’s Fred’s (Fussell, the curator) title. I’m from Phenix City and this is my first show here. They finally invited someone from Phenix City.

Is “Crossing the Bridge” a reference to crossing from Phenix City to Columbus?

I can see my old house from here. It’s no longer there.

You’ve always told stories of old Phenix City and have painted some scenes from your hometown. Is it that important to you?

I have painted a lot of Phenix City. I have a painting of the old bank (at Dillingham Street Bridge) looking toward Columbus and you can see Ed Neal’s building (the Columbus architect who designed the Government Center) in the background. I’m not making fun.

Besides painting, you’re an avid cyclist. What’s the longest distance you’ve ridden your bike?

Forty miles. I usually ride 200 meters or 500 meters. I’m the state champion (New York), the Pam American champion and I won the bronze medal at the Masters National Trials. I was the rider of the year in New York. I’m proud of those.

When did you start riding?

I used to ride from Phenix City to Columbus College. I’ve always had a bike. I didn’t start racing until much later, maybe 38. Now, I go ride with those guys from Ride On Bikes. I train three hours a day. At the last Masters National, my team won by a second-and-a-half. But we got disqualified.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on something totally different. My next project is on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn. People are trying to clean it up. There’s a bridge over the canal and plein air painters are always there. It’s two blocks from Mary’s studio and two blocks from mine.

Do you have any paintings in Columbus that people can see besides the show?

There’s one in Outdoor World and one in Ride On Bikes.